How to access shell when "No space left on device" error is blocking enabling of the shell. Vmware vCenter Server Appliance

[DavidMurphy7]

I'm running a Vmware vCenter Server Appliance virtual machine that has locked me out of the shell.

The web interface has failed.

I can view the main screen but when I press F2 to get into the settings it spews error messages imposed behind the login promt. The relevant one seems to be

"IOError: [Errno 28] No space left on device]"

From some googling this appears to be an issue that can afflict this server when log files fill up one of the available drives and there are hits from this forum but but the solutions I've found all involve logging in to the shell and clearing some space.

Unfortunately the shell is disabled and when I try to enable it nothing happens and it kicks me back to the main screen with the same spew of buggy errors

I can switch to the console view but it doesn't allow me to enter the shell.

I can connect through a remote terminal but the shell is also locked out from there.

Are there any other approaches I can try to gain access to the system and/or clear enough space for the server to run normally?

[DavidMurphy7]

unfortunately the images in my post didn't load.

I've asked the same question over at serverfault:https://serverfault.com/questions/973963/vmware-vcenter-server-appliance-errno-28-no-space-left-on-d...

https://serverfault.com/questions/973963/vmware-vcenter-server-appliance-errno-28-no-space-left-on-d...

[birend1988 · Accepted solution]

You need to go into GRUB mode and clear the old log files.

6.0

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2069041

6.5 & 6.7

VMware Knowledge Base

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[DavidMurphy7]

Thanks for the remarkably fast reply brend! 

I'm finally able to clear the logs and boot the server normally.