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MichealBlack
Contributor
Contributor

SNMP problem with ESXi 5 Update 1

We upgraded 6 of our HP BL460c blades to ESXi 5 Update 1 for Windows 8 and Server 2012 development. Everything is working OK except that I cannot SNMP monitoring to work on any of them. I have gone over the documentation and various online posts on the subject and all my settings look OK. Both port UDP161 and 162 are open in the firewalls, The /etc/snmp/xml file has the correct entries and is enabled. But I get nothing to my Cacti monitor. snmpwalk fails for all 6.However, I am seeing a few queries that seem to be returning some data.

I also deoloyed the vMA .ovf which will not start as there is no IP pool available. All the corp servers are fixed IPs and the other VMs are getting addresses from our DHCP servers. The vMA has a fixed IP in the server range. What do I need to do to get this thing working?

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jrmunday
Commander
Commander

Can you run the original test I posed using the vSphere CLI (not PowerCLI) --- what does this return? Just wondering if the PERL script will help?

vExpert 2014 - 2022 | VCP6-DCV | http://www.jonmunday.net | @JonMunday77
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MichealBlack
Contributor
Contributor

When I run: vicfg-snmp.pl --server myesxihost --username root --password mypassword --show I get:

Current SNMP agent settings:
Enabled  : 0
UDP port : 161

Communities :

Notification targets :

When I run vicfg-snmp.pl --server myesxihost --username root --password mypassword -E I get:

Enabling agent...
Failed : A general system error occurred: Load persistant store failed

I am, of course, using the proper server ID and password.

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jrmunday
Commander
Commander

This probably means your /etc/vmware/snmp.xml is corrupt;

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=100052...

Use "vi" to recreate the xml file and not a regular text editor.

vExpert 2014 - 2022 | VCP6-DCV | http://www.jonmunday.net | @JonMunday77
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MichealBlack
Contributor
Contributor

I already found that KB and renamed the snmp.xml file and created a net one per the KB. However, tha service mgmt-vmware restart command does not run on this server and an /sbin/services.sh restart restarts everything but there is still no snmp.

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jrmunday
Commander
Commander

Has the host been rebooted since recreating the XML file?

vExpert 2014 - 2022 | VCP6-DCV | http://www.jonmunday.net | @JonMunday77
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MichealBlack
Contributor
Contributor

Yes and still no change. It is like there is no snmp code there at all.

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jrmunday
Commander
Commander

I would either log a support call to VMware (if you have support) or take a sledgehammer approach and rebuild the host.

vExpert 2014 - 2022 | VCP6-DCV | http://www.jonmunday.net | @JonMunday77
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MichealBlack
Contributor
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I am thinking the sledgehammer approach. I have the IT 8# sledge behind my office door. Sometimes hardware only responds to threats of violence!

I found that the new snmp.xml file was corupted when I downloaded a copy via sftp. I created another copy in a programing file editor and uploaded it but again, no changr. I am going to just let it sit for the weekend and look at it again on Monday.  I may have to update to ESXi 5.1, but I want to keep all the blades in a cluster on the same version and I only get one or two chances to do upgrades in a year as these are in production 24/7. This cluster, however, is only 2 blades and currently has only 1 VM so I can do and upgrade on it next Monday.

Thanks for all the help. Hopefully 5.1 will fix things.

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jrmunday
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Commander

vSphere 5.1 introduces a new set of challenges (such as single sign on), so I would plan this carefully. We have taken the decision not to roll out 5.1 until all the initial bugs are ironed out and we have planned the infrastructure appropriately ... I reckon we'll only start this in a few months time.

Hope you get it sorted!

vExpert 2014 - 2022 | VCP6-DCV | http://www.jonmunday.net | @JonMunday77
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MichealBlack
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Thank you all for the assistance. I learned a lot about how SNMP works with ESXi 5. The solution ended up being to reinstall ESXi 5 Update 1 using the HP image which has all the necessary stuff in it. I did a complete reinstall, not an upgrade, and was able to setup the networking and use the VMware vSphere CLI to setup the SNMP and Cacti is now happily graphing away.

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jrmunday
Commander
Commander

Good news! I guess learning something new is the silver lining Smiley Happy

Cheers,

Jon

vExpert 2014 - 2022 | VCP6-DCV | http://www.jonmunday.net | @JonMunday77
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amatteo78
Contributor
Contributor

Hi,

I have same problem with ESXi 5.1, but i can't reinstall server.

I setup snmp, it start but after 1/2 request from other server with snmpwalk, service crash and stop.

I try delete snmp.xml and re-create by vi but nothing. Need reboot host after re-creare snmp.xml ??

Thanks

M.

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