When running backup, all VM’s from particular host fail with the message 1994 – can’t write CIFS on a particular host.
vRanger is successful backing up from other ESX hosts
Also backups are working to all repositories from other ESX hosts
There is a possibility of stagnant ESX services or closed ports on that particular host
Please make sure you are running vRanger 4.5.3 or later
Please make sure your ESX firewall has following ports open:
vSphere web access and SMB client
Attempt the backup again.
If this fails please restart vMware management servces:
1.Stop all 3 vRanger services (Please make sure you don’t have any backup/restore running)
2. In VC select ESX host, Configuration tab, Virtual Machine Startup/Shutdown.
Make sure Startup value set to Disabled for all VMs.
3. Putty into ESX host as root and run following commands:
su - root
service mgmt-vmware restart (management agent on the host)
service vmware-webAccess restart
service vmware-vpxa restart (virtual center agent)
VMs residing on this esx may appear disconnected for up to 2 minutes, but they are up and running. That is just a matter of VC knowing status of those vm. services will recover and correct vm status will be displayed.
VMware KB article: (Restarting the Management agents on an ESX or ESXi Server)
http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1003490
Rarely but if the host is not reachable through VirtualCenter or the VI Client:
Log in to the ESX Server service console as root.
At the command line run vimsh.
At the [/] prompt, type:
hostsvc/autostartmanager/enable_autostart 0
service mgmt-vmware restart
service vmware-webAccess restart
Type exit.
