Collecting diagnostic information from vCenter and ESX using PowerCLI (4033100)

vRanger and NetVault Backup Technical Support may require VMware Diagnostics including of which include host and VC logs, VDDK info, etc. This article provides instructions as well as a link to the VMware KB article with instructions on how to generate and gather this info if needed.

VMware vSphere PowerCLI can be used to download a vc-support or vm-support log bundle from VMware vSphere vCenter Server and/or ESX/ESXi hosts, or to view or search the individual log files stored on the host. For more information on VMware PowerCLI, see the VMware vSphere PowerCLI Documentation.

Connecting to vCenter Server or an ESX/ESXi host with PowerCLI

To run specific vSphere PowerCLI cmdlets and perform administration or monitoring tasks, you must connect to vCenter Server or an ESX/ESXi host.

1. Launch the vSphere PowerCLI.
   
2. In the vSphere PowerCLI console window, establish a connection to an ESX/ESXi host or a vCenter Server using the command:
   
   Connect-VIServer -Server HostnameOrIPAddress
   
   The output appears similar to: 
   
   Name                    Port     User
----                    ----     ----
HostnameOrIPAddress     443      Username
   
   Note: If the certificate is not trusted, a warnings displays. Depending on your security policy, these warnings can be ignored.

Downloading a diagnostic log bundle from vCenter Server

To download a vc-support diagnostic log bundle from vCenter Server:

1. Enter the command:
   
   Get-Log -Bundle -DestinationPath c:\Storage\Location\
   
   The output appears similar to: 
   
   Data
----
C:\Storage\Location\vc-support-nnnnnnnn-nnnn-nnnn-nnnn-nnnnnnnnnnnn.tgz
   
   

Download a diagnostic log bundle from an ESX/ESXi host

To download a vm-support diagnostic log bundle from an ESX/ESXi host managed by vCenter Server:

1. Enter the command:
   
   Get-VMHost HostNameOrIP | Get-Log -Bundle -DestinationPath c:\Storage\Location\
   
   The output appears similar to: 
   
   Data
----
C:\Storage\Location\vm-support-nnnnnnnn-nnnn-nnnn-nnnn-nnnnnnnnnnnn.tgz