vCenter does not start after installation on Windows 2008 Standard x64

[FrankM3]

Hi all,

i am desperatly trying to install my vCenterServer 4.1 on a Windows2008 Standard SP2 x64 machine (4GBRam, 70GBHD) dual proc.

i use the embedded 2005 SQL express db as default. Installation terminates "successfully", but vmservices do not start ...

I checked DSN, seems to be ok, connection successfully.

I also tried installing the x64 native SQL client as mentioned in the doc ... no success.

Now, i really do not have any idea on how to get this up and running :smileycry:

[Troy_Clavell]

do you have any event log errors?  IIS is not installed on the box?

[gekko]

How did you create the DSN?

Try the x64 : %systemdrive%\Windows\System32\Odbcad32.exe

or

x86: %systemdrive%\Windows\SysWoW64\Odbcad32.exe

And see if anything of those work ..

- Kenth

[FrankM3]

No, no IIS installed, it's a blank Win2008 only connected to the domain.

Which logs to you need? vmware, sql, event viewer?

Thanks

[Troy_Clavell]

look at the system and application  logs on the vCenter Host OS.

[a_p_]

Does this happen after rebooting the server?

Can you start the vCenter Service manually?

Maybe http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1007669 solves the issue.

André

[FrankM3]

Hi Kenth,

i used the first method to create the system DSN. as it is state in the manual to have a 64 bit DSN ...

[FrankM3]

Hi André,

it never starts, it's a fresh install. also manually it's not possible.

i'll try the procedure in KB ... thanks.

[gekko]

Ok ..

If you look at the DSN (system DSN!) what version of the driver does it have?

-Kenth

[FrankM3]

System Log:  Server error 2 (0x2)

Applications Log: VMServer failed to initialize

that's it

[gekko]

in the vpxd.log file on the vCenter, does it have any "username error or password errors"?

You can try to reset the db password by running in a command prompt

vpxd.exe -p

Its located in your vcenter installation folder (on the vcenter server ofcourse )

-Kenth

[Troy_Clavell]

..and you followed the KB article linked by a.p.   This seems to me to be the fix, but....

[FrankM3]

no vpxd.log on the server ...

[FrankM3]

i checked all dependencies, and all looks good (even in the regedit, the values are OK).

delayed startup doesn't help too.....

i checked the event logs (windows application).

i can see, that it starts the VIM_VCDB, but i never see a "successfull" ...

that's strange, because i can connect to the DB with the odbc tool (connection successfull).

... it still can't conect to the DB :smileycry::smileyangry:

right now i am a little bit lost with all the infos of using a 64 Bit DSN.

do i have to configure the nativ client on the ...\system32\odbc32.exe or

on the WOW64 ...

[Troy_Clavell]

this Windows box is not a domain controller correct?  Have you installed any additional roles?  Is starting from scratch an option.  Maybe run you vCenter Server as a VM?

[Troy_Clavell]

..and \system32\odbc32.exe is the correct one.  Or simply go to Admistrative tools ODBC, system DSN. use SQL Native Client.  That will be the proper DSN Setup.

[FrankM3]

Hi,

no, it's not a DC and no optional roles have been installed.

Uninstalling is an option, actually, i did it already 3 times

Installing as VM might be an option, but i am not sure about the pros and cons?

What do you think?

[FrankM3]

Even ESX experts were not able to get this up and running ...

So the solution was to use Windws Server 2003 64bit ... and it works!