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1 "correct" answer available (10 pts) 2 "helpful" answers available (6 pts)
1 2 3 4 5 ... 47 Previous Next 704 Replies Last post: Aug 25, 2008 11:18 PM by dipaksharma   Go to original post
Click to view etamir's profile Enthusiast 31 posts since
Mar 9, 2006

Hay Matt,

Thanks a lot for sharing this...we will try to be ready for it with the workaround once customers start calling.

I understand this applies to ESXi 3.5 U2 as well...

Click to view Gonecase's profile Novice 14 posts since
Jul 2, 2008
An issue has been uncovered with ESX 3.5 U2 that causes the product license to expire on August 12. VMware engineering has isolated the root cause of this issue and is working on a fix
Click to view lholling's profile Expert 291 posts since
Apr 10, 2005

virgilwashere wrote:
Is there any confirmation on which component is broken?

  • ESX host 3.5 U2 build-103908
  • Virtual Centre 2.5 U2 build 104215
  • License Server FLEXnet Licensing (v10.8.0.9 build 26824)

My idea is to install another instance of License Server based on VC 2.5 U1, and give it a copy of the licences.

Don't bother reinstalling the problem is definitely in the ESX code as we have the same VirtualCenter host managing U1 and U2 servers and only the U2 servers are affected.

Also with the licensing server this is still running U1 code for us.

Leonard...

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Don't forget if the answers help, award points

Click to view deploylinux's profile Enthusiast 59 posts since
Oct 20, 2004

OK, while we're all trying to remain calm, let me speak for everyone when I say this type of bug simply isn't acceptable. Ever.

VMware wants the world to run all or nearly all it's applications in hypervisors. Any bug which manages to get past QA testing and which could arbitrarily prevent running on VM's across the entire world without any advanced warning is pretty much close to the definition of worst case scenario. The only thing that would be worse is if the bug had been introduced by a third party.

I've lost alot of faith in VMware QA here.....a simple regression test using a date a year ahead prior to making a new release would have been an obvious test, right? Especially as the license server is one of the products...date based checks should have been made, no question.

Very dissappointed.


Click to view totgate's profile Novice 6 posts since
Jun 24, 2008

This is the biggest disgrace i have ever seen from a company with the reputation like VmWare. How something like this can slip thru the net is unbelivable. I have always belived in VmWare but its stuff like this that makes me look at microsoft instead. I wonder how much money all their customers have lost so far on this "bug". My customer for example had a whole production standing still all through the night and that costed him a lot of money. I think WmWare must do something out of the ordinary for their customers now if they want "us" to have faith in them again.

/Tobbe

Click to view neil@ibm's profile Novice 11 posts since
Aug 15, 2005

I had the same issue with our entire hosting platform... workaround was fine... but dodgy (as an aside, you cant reboot VM's either).

VMware... you had better get a fix out for this ASAP else it will seriously impact your reputation.

Click to view dipaksharma's profile Lurker 3 posts since
Aug 11, 2008
Hi Guys,

i am running ESXi Server 3.5 update 2 on my PE1900 server (production) and on another Dell desktop (as a test). I tried setting the clock back to 9th aug 08 and it all worked fine.

I will do the same on my prod now and hope everything goes fine.

Just on a side note can i ask how can i get ssh access to the server? Please note as i am using the ESXi on single server i have free license copy, not sure if that makes any difference.

Regards,
Dipak
Click to view lholling's profile Expert 291 posts since
Apr 10, 2005
Just on a side note can i ask how can i get ssh access to the server? Please note as i am using the ESXi on single server i have free license copy, not sure if that makes any difference.
Thanks to Duncan Epping from Yellow Bricks for the following http://www.yellow-bricks.com
By default this isn't possible. But there's a way to get this working, just do the following:

1. Go to the ESXi console and press alt+F1
2. Type: unsupported
3. Enter the root password
4. At the prompt type "vi /etc/inetd.conf"
5. Look for the line that starts with "#ssh" (you can search with pressing "/")
6. Remove the "#" (press the "x" if the cursor is on the character)
7. Save "/etc/inetd.conf" by typing ":wq!"
8. Restart the management service "/sbin/services.sh restart"

Done!


Leonard...
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Don't forget if the answers help, award points

Click to view neil@ibm's profile Novice 11 posts since
Aug 15, 2005
I had the same thing with VM Tools time sync... resync'd all my guests time backwards.. even though VMware SE's state that it only rolls forwards. Be carefull with your DC's !!
Click to view rabbie's profile Novice 28 posts since
May 8, 2007

I'm also in Australia/Sydney. Same problem. Luckily I am under no legal obligation to not change the time settings on my server. When do you think we will have an update to fix this bug?

Rabbie

www.commoncents.net.au

Click to view esiebert7625's profile Guru 6,794 posts since
Oct 23, 2006
I can't speak for VMware but I would guess today, it should be a simple thing to remove the time bomb that was put in for the beta version and re-package the code.

Eric Siebert
VMware Communities User Moderator
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