Knowledge Base

Verifying that the correct version of VirtualCenter is installed

1. To determine the version and build number of your VirtualCenter installation, click Help > About from within VirtualCenter.
2. Right-click on the ESX host and click Disconnect to disconnect the ESX host from VirtualCenter.
3. Log in as root to the ESX host using an SSH client.
4. Run the following command to determine the version of the VirtualCenter agent (vpxa) that is installed:
   
   [root@esx-server /]# rpm -qa | grep vpxa
   
   The output appears similar to:
   
   VMware-vpxa-2.5.0-64192
   
   
5. Ensure that the output matches the information from step 1. If the versions do not match, reinstall the agents.

Reinstalling the agents

1. Disconnect the ESX host in VirtualCenter. Right-click the host and click Disconnect.
2. Log in as root to the ESX host using an SSH client.
3. Paste the following string of commands into the SSH session:
   
   service mgmt-vmware stop && service vmware-vpxa stop && service vmware-vmkauthd stop && service xinetd restart && rpm -qa | grep -i vpxa | awk '{print $1}' | xargs rpm -ef $1 && userdel vpxuser && rpm -qa | grep -i aam | awk '{print $1}' | xargs rpm -ef $1 && service mgmt-vmware start && service vmware-vmkauthd start
   
   Note: This is a concatenated list of commands strung together with the "&&" operator. This is useful in stringing together multiple commands as the next command does not start until the previous one has completed successfully.
   
   Here is a description of the commands:
   
4. • The service mgmt-vmware stop && service vmware-vpxa stop && service vmware-vmkauthd stop && service xinetd restart command stops the management services for the service console.
   • The rpm -qa | grep -i vpxa | awk '{print $1}' | xargs rpm -ef $1 command removes the vpxa agent.
   • The userdel vpxuser command removes the vpxa user that gets installed once you connect the host to VirtualCenter.
   • The rpm -qa | grep -i aam | awk '{print $1}' | xargs rpm -ef $1 command removes the AAM RPM (HA) which gets reinstalled when you configure HA.
   • The service mgmt-vmware start && service vmware-vmkauthd start command following restarts the services.
   • The vmware-cmd -l command lets you know when hostd is up and running so you can reattach it to VirtualCenter.
     
     Note: When you see a list of virtual machines output, the command sequence is complete.
     
     
5. Log in to the VirtualCenter Server u sing VMware Infrastructure (VI) Client.
6. Choose the ESX host from the inventory list.
7. Right-click on the ESX host and click Connect. This step initiates a re-install of the agent.