VirtualCenter service not starting on reboot

[mclark]

My VC server VirtualCenter service will not start automatically on reboot. The SQL 2005 Express edition is installed on the same VM. I have the VC service set to depend on MSSQLSERVER, but it has not made a difference. The event viewer logs show VC trying to hit SQL before it's ready, so I assume that MSSQLSERVER shows started, and then VC tries to start, but SQL is not quite ready yet even though it's started. Anyone else having this problem and have a good way to fix it? It is not helpful to have to log into the ESX host to start the VC service every time...

Thanks!

[slebbon]

I had this same problem for awhile. One thing that seemed to help was adding a 4th dependecy after SQL server...something else that started 'late' to give time for SQL to finish starting up.

[Ameha]

I had the same and all the suggestions above did not solve my problem. I opened a SR with vmware and this solved my issue.

1. Create a .bat file with following script:

net start MSSQL$SQLEXP_VIM

ping 127.0.0.1 -n 30 -w 1000 > null

net start vpxd

2. Set script to run on boot. For 2003 systems:

• Open the local computer policy (Start > Run and type in gpedit.msc and press Enter)

• Expand Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Scripts

• In the right-hand pane, double-click Startup and add your script.

3. Set SQL and VC services to manual startup.

And reboot the server.

[jaypalewicz]

Thank you Ameha for posting your instructions! After a recent reboot of our Virtual Center Server, I found that my fix did not work anyway. I implemented your fix and things seem to be working properly.

Jay

[Piggy]

I re-installed Win2K3 for vSphere 4 and had the same problem. I have been able to fix it by changing "VMware Virtual Center Service" to have a depency for "SQL Server (SQLEXP_VIM). You can find instructions on the Microsoft website on how to edit service registry keys to create dependicies, but I did it with a copy of Service+ from Active+ Software. I have no association with the company but they have some handy tools. Their URL is http://www.activeplus.com/Products/ServicePlus.

I hope this helps others. Post a reply if it does!

[Tirelibirefe]

How can I find the correct service name of the service?

net start MSSQL$VIM_SQLEXP >> That command doesnt run on me. My server is showing MSSQL$VIM_SQLEXP as the name of the service but power shell says there is no such a service.

[AlexanderKurnit]

For me the following fix works perfectly on two different servers, that had a problem with starting before the change:

sc.exe config vpxd depend= ProtectedStorage/lanmanworkstation/MSSQL"$"VIM_SQLEXP/VMwareSTS

I've just added to vCenter dependencies VmWare Security Token Service