Collecting diagnostic information for ESXi hosts and vCenter Server using the vSphere Client

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides steps to collect diagnostic information for ESXi hosts and the vCenter Server using the vSphere Web Client.

VMware Technical Support routinely requests diagnostic information when a support request is handled. This diagnostic information contains product specific logs, configuration files, and data appropriate to the situation. The information is gathered using a specific script or tool for each product and can include a host support bundle from the ESXi host and vCenter Server support bundle. Data collected in a host support bundle may be considered sensitive.

 

Additionally, as of vSphere 6.5, support bundles can include encrypted information from an ESXi host. For more information on support bundles, see Data collected when gathering diagnostic information from vSphere products.

Note: For more information, see the vSphere Monitoring and Performance Guide. This guide contains definitive information. If there is a discrepancy between the guide and the article, assume the guide is correct.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 6.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x

Resolution

To collect ESXi and vCenter Server diagnostic data:
 

vSphere Client (HTML5, vSphere 6.5 and later)

1. Start the vSphere Client and log into the vCenter Server system.
2. In the Hosts and Clusters view, select the vCenter Server object that contains the ESXi hosts from which logs are needed.
3. Either:
   • Right-click the vCenter Server object and select Export System Logs..., or
   • Select the ACTIONS link and select Export System Logs...
4. Select the ESXi hosts for which logs are needed from.
5. To collect diagnostic data for the vCenter Server itself, select the Include vCenter Server and vSphere UI Client logs option. This step is optional.
6. Click the Next button.
7. Select Gather performance data to include performance data information in the log files. This is optional and should only be selected if performance data a needed.
   
   Note: As an option, update the duration and interval time for the data collection. Optionally, enter a password for encrypted core dumps.
    
8. Click the EXPORT LOGS button to save the bundle to the local computer.
   
   Note: The host or vCenter Server generates .zip bundles containing the log files. The Recent Tasks panel shows the Generate diagnostic bundles task in progress.

ESXi host console

• Running the vm-support command in a console session on ESXi hosts.
  • The command-line vm-support utility is present on all versions of VMware ESXi, though some of the options available with the utility differ among versions. Refer to vm-support” command in ESX/ESXi to collect diagnostic information.
    
    
• Running vc-support in a console session on vCenter 6.0 or later using the command line.
  • The command-line vc-support utility is present on all versions of VMware VCenter, though some of the options available with the utility differ among versions. Refer to Collecting diagnostic information for VMware vCenter Server 4.x, 5.x and 6.x .

Additional Information

VMware Skyline Health Diagnostics for vSphere - FAQ

To simplify and expedite the log upload process, we recommend using the Log Assist feature of VMware Skyline, which (with permission) automatically uploads log files. Skyline is available to all Production Support and Premier Services customers. To get started with Skyline, visit: Using Log Assists for Support Requests.