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Configuring an ESX/ESXi host to capture a VMkernel coredump from a purple diagnostic screen (1000328)

Details

This article provides an overview of configuring VMware ESX/ESXi with a location for storing diagnostic information during a purple diagnostic screen and host failure.

For more information about collecting diagnostic information from the disk or network location after a purple screen error, see Collecting diagnostic information from an ESX or ESXi host that experiences a purple diagnostic screen (1004128).

Solution

During a host failure with a purple diagnostic screen, VMware ESX/ESXi attempts to save diagnostic information to one or more pre-configured locations. The available target locations and the methods for configuring the host differ between versions of ESX/ESXi.

If the host has been configured with a location for saving a coredump, but does not successfully record a coredump during a purple diagnostic screen, there may be problems with either the storage medium or the connection to the storage medium. To successfully capture diagnostic information from a subsequent outage, configure an alternate target for saving the coredump.

Host Configuration

Tags

setup-vmkcore-partition

Update History

05/21/2010 - Added the sections VMkernel Core and Service Console Core, Space Requirements for Core Files, and The VMKcore Partition and Storage Devices. 04/29/2011 - Changed partitioning instructions to use partedUtil, moved service console information to KB 1032962. 08/02/2011 - Refactored ESX/ESXi 2.5-4.1 steps to KB 2004297. 08/25/2011 - Added ESXi 5.0 information.

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