ESXi and vCenter Server configuration files control the behavior of the system. Most configuration file settings are set during installation, but can be modified after installation. Log files capture messages generated by the kernel and different subsystems and services. ESXi and vCenter Server services maintain separate log files. The following table lists log files or reports, their locations and associated configuration files.

Description

Log Location

Filename or Names

Configuration File

ESXi service log

/var/log/vmware/

hostd.log [hostd-0.log, ...hostd-9.log]

config.xml

vCenter Server agent log

/var/log/vmware/vpx/

vpxa.log

 

Virtual machine kernel core file

/root/

vmkernel-core.<date>

vmkernel-log.<date>

syslog.conf, logrotate.conf, various other

syslogd log

/var/log/

messages [messages.1,...

messages.4]

syslog.conf, logrotate.conf

Service console availability report

/var/log/

vmkernel [vmkernel.1, ... vmkernel.8]

syslog.conf, logrotate.conf

VMkernel messages, alerts, and availability reports

/var/log/vmkernel

 

syslog.conf, logrotate.conf

VMkernel warning

/var/log/

vmkwarning [vmkwarning.1 ... 4 for history]

syslog.conf, logrotate.conf

Virtual machine log file

vmfs/volume/<vm_name>

vmware.log

<vm_name>/<vm_name>.vmx

For developers, the following files are most relevant:

■

hostd.log – Host daemon log, see ESXi Log File. Can be used as a SOAP monitor when set to trivia log level as in Generating Logs.

■

vpxa.log – Agent log file found on each managed ESXi system.

■

vmware.log – Virtual machine log. See Virtual Machine Log Files.

In addition to viewing log files in real time you can also generate reports and complete diagnostic bundles. See Generating Diagnostic Bundles.

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