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mpjames
Contributor
Contributor

IP address, DNS name not displayed in Summary tab

This question has been asked before but I haven't been able to resolve it. This happens with multiple (but not all) VMs on multiple hosts.

Host:

ESXi 5.0.0, 469512 running on Dell PowerEdge 1950. I have the Dell OpenManage components installed. I don't think it's the OM tools, because some VMs do have the IP address and DNS Name displayed on the same host.

Guest:

Centos 5.6, 32-bit, and Guest OS is set to Centos 4/5/6 (32-bit)

VMware-tools 8.6.0.6261 (build-425873)

VM version: 7 and 8

Problem: IP address, DNS name don't show on Summary tab for the VM in the vSphere client. Something else I've noticed - when connected to the host directly, the Guest OS: field of an affected VM is populated. When connected to vCenter, the Guest OS: field for the same VM is blank.

Troubleshooting (things that didn't work):

1. rebooted guest

2. uninstalled vmware-tools, re-installed vmware-tools

3. removed/re-added VM from host inventory.

4. restarted services.sh on host

5. from KB 1013371, added isolation.tools.setinfo.disable configuration option and set it to false. But since the parameter wasn't there in the 1st place, I don't think it had any effect.

Thanks for any and all suggestions. --Mike

14 Replies
sa2057
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

Hi,

pl. check your video card settings to auto-detect video settings and reinstall VMware tools.

Thanks

SA

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zXi_Gamer
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

Can you run vim-cmd vmsvc/get.guest <VMID> and let me know, if the dns is displayed in the output

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mpjames
Contributor
Contributor

Here's the output. Thanks.

~ # vim-cmd vmsvc/get.guest 5

Guest information:
(vim.vm.GuestInfo) {
   dynamicType = <unset>,
   toolsStatus = "toolsOk",
   toolsVersionStatus = "guestToolsCurrent",
   toolsVersionStatus2 = "guestToolsCurrent",
   toolsRunningStatus = "guestToolsRunning",
   toolsVersion = "8384",
   guestId = <unset>,
   guestFamily = <unset>,
   guestFullName = "",
   hostName = "",
   ipAddress = <unset>,
   screen = (vim.vm.GuestInfo.ScreenInfo) {
      dynamicType = <unset>,
      width = 720,
      height = 400,
   },
   guestState = "running",
   powerPolicy = (vim.vm.PowerPolicy) null,
   appHeartbeatStatus = "appStatusGray",
   guestOperationsReady = true,
   interactiveGuestOperationsReady = false,
}
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HannaL
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

If you performed those steps in the order listed and you added a new vmx parameter then you need to power off the VM, remove from inventory, add the vm back in to inventory and power back on.   That is the way a new parameter will be read in a vmx file.

According to the VMware HCL there is no listed Guest OS support for CentOS 5.x.  I only see CentOS 4.x versions.  That could be related.  You may just have to add the ip address and dns name in the VM annotations field to remember what the VM info is until it is a supported version in case that is the cause.

Good luck

Hope that helps, Hanna --- BSCS, VCP2, VCP VI3, VCP vSphere, VCP 5 https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/mydeveloperworks/blogs/vmware-support-ibm
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mpjames
Contributor
Contributor

Interesting idea - we're running this server at runlevel 3 (no gui) but I know that some of the X11 packages are installed. Why do you think the video card would affect the operation of vmware-tools?

Mike

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mpjames
Contributor
Contributor

Those parameters are correctly displayed with other VMs running Centos 5.6 (on the same host). Which is really weird.

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john23
Commander
Commander

I think its supported :

CentOS  5.8

Support for CentOS 5.8 has been introduced for these products:

  • ESX 4.0 Update 4, ESX 4.1 Update 2 and ESXi 5.0

http://blogs.vmware.com/guestosguide/

Thanks -A Read my blogs: www.openwriteup.com
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john23
Commander
Commander

Have you tried this kb:

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=101337...

Thanks -A Read my blogs: www.openwriteup.com
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HannaL
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Woops you are right.  I had the wrong options selected in my HCL search.

Might want to try restarting the vCenter server service or the management agents,  its amazing how many odd little things get fixed by doing those things..

Hope that helps, Hanna --- BSCS, VCP2, VCP VI3, VCP vSphere, VCP 5 https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/mydeveloperworks/blogs/vmware-support-ibm
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UmeshAhuja
Commander
Commander

Hi,

You might also try re-starting the mgmt-vmware and vmware-vpxa services on the ESX server and then reconnect with the VI Client.

Thanks n Regards
Umesh Ahuja

If your query resolved then please consider awarding points by correct or helpful marking.
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mpjames
Contributor
Contributor

Yes, tried that KB and it had no effect.

This is ESXi 5.0.0 so I ran "services.sh restart" from the command line. Doesn't that restart all the services? To be safe, I also used the console to restart the management agents, but there was no change. IP and DNS name still do not appear on the Summary tab.

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HannaL
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

also try restarting the vcenter server service.  also did you remove and readd the vm from inventory _after_ you followed that KB?

Hope that helps, Hanna --- BSCS, VCP2, VCP VI3, VCP vSphere, VCP 5 https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/mydeveloperworks/blogs/vmware-support-ibm
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JUrenaG
Contributor
Contributor

Hello,

Hope everything is ok.

We are facing this issue with many VM's on my environment. I have tried the steps in this VMware KB: Virtual machine IP Address and DNS Name not available on virtual machine Summary tab and it's still happening the same thing.

For us, it's really important to know how to fix this issue, since our monitoring tool require that the VM's to have this information in the Summary tab.

Hope someone can help me.

Regards,

Joe

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rabdi
Contributor
Contributor

Hi mpjames;

Try this solution: VMware Knowledge Base

Or:

Virtual machine IP Address and DNS Name not available on virtual machine Summary tab (1013371)


Document Id


1013371


Symptoms


  • Cannot view the virtual machine IP Address or Domain Name Server (DNS) Name. 
  • The virtual machine IP Address and DNS Name are not available on the virtual machine Summary tab.


Cause


This issue occurs if the virtual machine Configuration Parameter isolation.tools.setinfo.disable is set to True. When configured this way, the guest operating system does not pass IP Address and DNS Name information to the ESXi/ESX host for display in vCenter Server. Newly created virtual machines without this virtual machine Configuration Parameter set to True do not exhibit this problem.

Note: It is not required for the vCenter Server to be apart of the domain for the fully qualified domain name of a managed virtual machine to be displayed; however, if the virtual machine is not member of domain, then DNS name on virtual machine's Summary tab will display the hostname only.


Resolution


To resolve the issue, set the isolation.tools.setinfo.disable parameter to False.

To set the isolation.tools.setinfo.disable parameter to False:

  1. Power off the virtual machine. 
  2. Right-click the virtual machine and click Edit Settings.
  3. Click the Options tab.
  4. Click General under Advanced.
  5. Click Configuration Parameters.
  6. Locate the isolation.tools.setinfo.disable parameter and set the value to False.

    Note: If the parameter is not present, you can add it manually with the Add Row button and add the parameter name and value from the steps above.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Power on the virtual machine.
If after performing these steps the issue persists:
  1. Right-click the Virtual Machine and click Remove from Inventory
  2. Browse the Datastore where the virtual machine is stored and right-click the virtual machines .vmx file. 
  3. Click Add to Inventory for the Configuration Parameters to become effective.
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