VI Client reports VMware Tools "Not Running"

[eagleh]

Hello folks,

This is becoming very annoying. It started happening since I updated ESX server from U2 to U3 and Vcenter Server from U3 to U4.

The problem is: From time to time, from VI Client, the status of VMware Tools on different VMs (distributed on both ESX hosts) shows "not running". Then I log onto the VMs, restart the VMware Tools service, then VI Client shows "ok". I am wondering what causes this problem and desperate to fix this problem.

I apprecaite your help.

Thanks.

[Jasemccarty]

I was having this issue, and I looked all over. When I looked at storage, I saw some SCSI reservation errors.

I wrote a little vbs to correct the problem until I got a handle on the storage issues.

Here's the info about the vbs. http://www.jasemccarty.com/blog/2008/12/virtual-machine-heartbeat-state-band.html

Cheers,

Jase

Jase McCarty

http://www.jasemccarty.com

Co-Author of VMware ESX Essentials in the Virtual Data Center

(ISBN:1420070274) from Auerbach

_{Please consider awarding points if this post was helpful or correct}

[eagleh]

Thanks Jase. I like your trick. But I really want to know the reason that causes this problem. I may have to log a SR with VMWare.

[AWo]

Have you tried to reinstall the tools again?

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

AWo

VCP / vEXPERT 2009

[eagleh]

Yes, I have tried to reinstall Tools a couple of times but it didn't really help. It just happens randomly. Funny thing is sometimes I don't even have to restart the VM or the VM Tools service, after I log in the VM, it resturns back to "ToolsOk" again. There must be something "out of sync". I found myself not alone. Please see http://communities.vmware.com/message/869007 I may try "service mgmt-service restart" and reinstall VMTools again.

[Troy_Clavell]

just curios... do you have any power options set within the VM itself set, such as turn off monitor, sleep mode, anything?

[eagleh]

Troy, yes, some of them have "Screen Saver" set up. Would that be a reason? I never had such kind of problem before so I didn't pay attention to that.

[Troy_Clavell]

I can't say for sure that it is a cause of your problem, but I have seen weird issues with power options enabled on VM's. We have all of our VM's set with blank screensavers and power options disabled, which also helps in recovering resources. Imagine 100 VM's running a screen saver all the time.

[eagleh]

after I turned off "screen saver" and "turn off monitor" power options, it still happened to one VM. so i did the following CLI to see if it helps. observing...

service mgmt-vmware restart (on both hosts)

service vmware-vpax restart (on both hosts)

[msemon1]

You get this error when the VM is powered on and not a template or powered off?

Mike

[eagleh]

Yes, I get this "Not Running" error when the VM is on.

[maishsk · Accepted solution]

Have you seen this post from Jason Boche?

Systems Administrator & Virtualization Architect

[eagleh]

Maishsk, thank you very much. YES, Jason Boche was experiencing the EXACT problem I am having, and he has suggested some workaround. I noticed his blog is dated on March 31, right on time.

Thanks for pointing me to his blog. I am hoping U4 will fix this problem.

[The_Ether]

For ESX 3.5 it's allegedly fixed in Update 4:

VMware Tools status shows as not running after running VMware Consolidated Backup

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1008709

Cheers,

Jamie.