Power down or migrate disconnected VM (on disconnected ESX server)

[pskok]

We've got 4 ESX servers in our infrastructure. After power failure three of them powered on, but one didn't (esx-02).

On this host we've got virtual machine called f12-dns-02. Now esx-02 is disconnected, but this virtual machineis still seen as powered on, why?

We can't shut it down or migrate to another host (every option is disabled).

How can we power on this machine on another esx server?

[illvilja]

Hi,

First off, try to restart the management agents on that ESX.

service mgmt-vmware restart

If that doesn't help you can shut the VM down from the faulting ESX with vmware-cmd stop

Then you'll have to unregister it from that ESX, that is also done with vmware-cmd -s unregister

You can then register it on another ESX by browsing the datastore, right-clicking the VMX and add to inventory, or you can use vmware-cmd -s register on another ESX to register it.

Good luck!

VCP3/VCP4/VTSP/VSP/MCTS: Virtualization

[pskok]

Hello,

thanks, for your answer, but it didn't help.

The main problem is, that this phisical host (esx-02) is out of order. So I can't login via SSH on it, and restart management agents or execute command vmware-cmd.

I've tried execure vmware-cmd command on another ESX server, but it didn't worked:

# vmware-cmd stop f12-dns-02.vmx

vim.fault.NotFound: No virtual machine found with name: f12-dns-02.vmx

Is there any other way to do this?

[illvilja]

Hi,

If you have local access to it, you can do it.

If you don't, you'll have to restart it. Somehow.

You have to give full path to the vmx.

VCP3/VCP4/VTSP/VSP/MCTS: Virtualization

[pskok]

Hello,

I don't have any access (local or remote) to this ESX, so I can't restart it (this server is broken) .

I put the full path to the vmx file:

# vmware-cmd /vmfs/volumes/vmotion_01/f12-dns-02/f12-dns-02.vmx stop

vim.fault.NotFound: No virtual machine found with name: /vmfs/volumes/vmotion_01/f12-dns-02/f12-dns-02.vmx

[f10 · Accepted solution]

The virutal machine has to be registed to that ESX host while running the vmware-cmd commands. and if you are in the VM directory then you can use #vmware-cmd vm.vmx stop

#vmware-cmd vm.vmx stophard

If the second command does not work try with a space between stop and hard

So without the an access to SSH i think what you can use is vMA appliance.

If you found this or other information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful".

f10

VCP3,VCP4,HP UX CSA

http://kb.vmware.com/

[pskok]

I execute 'vmware-cmd -s register host.vmx' command execute on properly working ESX server.

When I powered on this machine, there was a question, if I copied of moved it. So I answered 'moved' and VM started.

One question, is this command 'vmware-cmd -s register' works on the same way as 'migrate' option in vClient?

Thanks for reply.

[f10]

vmware-cmd -s register/unregister is similar to right clicking on a powered off VM and click on remove from inventory and then you browse the datastore and right click on the .vmx file and click on add to inventory.

VM is an obejct in the virtual center inventory, so this command or the GUI steps would remove and add the VM it wont migrate.

If you found this or other information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful".

f10

VCP3,VCP4,HP UX CSA

http://kb.vmware.com/