Tag Archives: bug

VMware Software Download Service error

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Sometimes the download service seems to hang with an error such as “Reading the VMware software depot for the first time. This could take up to several minutes…”. One possible cause is an ongoing corruption issue with some of the underlying depot data files. This is documented in https://communities.vmware.com/thread/568541 and https://communities.vmware.com/thread/553547

In summary, the current issue relates to “corruption” in the dlg_ESXI60U3A.xhtml data file. Reference is made to a missing component (which seem ultimately to be files in the same directory).

The stdout-vapi_server.log file (stored in C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\VMware\Software Manager\Download Service) includes reference to the failing items, which can be removed one at a time. Once this is done (with the download service stopped) the service should resume working or report the next failing item. If the above error occurs, keep checking the stdout-vapi_server.log file for references to error items.

IPMI warnings from ASRock C2750D4I with 1.35V RAM – FIXED

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Short bullet points as I may get round to expanding this:

ASRock C2750D4I with 1.35V DRAM modules.

VMware client showed health status as an alert due to low RAM voltage (expected as they are 1.35V but it seems the machine’s BIOS sets the threshold for 1.5V RAM modules)

ESXi 6.0 health indicated VCCM1 (voltage controller for memory 1??) was in a warning state at 1.35V.

 

I found a statically linked copy of ipmitool at https://fattylewis.com/ipmitool-on-esxi-6/ which I uploaded to the ESXi host in question. This worked first time!

./ipmitool chassis status
System Power : on
Power Overload : false
Power Interlock : inactive
Main Power Fault : false
Power Control Fault : false
Power Restore Policy : previous
Last Power Event : ac-failed
Chassis Intrusion : inactive
Front-Panel Lockout : inactive
Drive Fault : false
Cooling/Fan Fault : false

I checked the sensors:

./ipmitool sensor list
....<snipped>...
ATX+5VSB | 5.040 | Volts | ok | 4.050 | 4.260 | 4.500 | 5.490 | 5.760 | 6.030
+3VSB | 3.440 | Volts | ok | 2.660 | 2.800 | 2.960 | 3.620 | 3.800 | 3.980
Vcore1 | 1.050 | Volts | ok | 0.540 | 0.570 | 0.600 | 1.490 | 1.560 | 1.640
Vcore2 | na | Volts | na | 0.540 | 0.570 | 0.600 | 1.490 | 1.560 | 1.640
VCCM1 | 1.350 | Volts | nc | 1.210 | 1.280 | 1.380 | 1.650 | 1.730 | 1.810
VCCM2 | na | Volts | na | 1.210 | 1.280 | 1.380 | 1.650 | 1.730 | 1.810
....<snipped>...

There we have it, the warning is set for 1.38V. This can be changed with IPMI tool:

./ipmitool sensor thresh VCCM1 lnc 1.32

Now we check the result:

./ipmitool sensor list VCCM1|grep VCCM
VCCM1 | 1.340 | Volts | ok | 1.210 | 1.280 | 1.320 | 1.650 | 1.730 | 1.810
VCCM2 | na | Volts | na | 1.210 | 1.280 | 1.380 | 1.650 | 1.730 | 1.810

And the VMware health status got fixed too!

 

 

For now, I will need to run this command after every reboot or reset of the IPMI management controller. I guess I should automate this for system boot-up….

FOLLOW-UP: I have just upgraded the BMC firmware from v0.27.00 to v0.30.00 and the issue seems to be resolved as the VCCM threasholds have been redefined:

./ipmitool sensor|grep VCCM
VCCM | 1.350 | Volts | ok | 1.090 | 1.120 | na | na | 1.720 | 1.750

Oh well, this was an interesting learning experience. Maybe this ipmitool info will help someone else. Note that this is a useful tool as it allows one to configure the management controller from the host while ESXi is running. Useful perhaps to configure the LAN, change the admin user or reset the controller entirely. For example, we can configure the IP address as follows:

./ipmitool lan set 1 ipsrc static
./ipmitool lan set 1 ipaddr 172.16.1.5
./ipmitool lan set 1 netmask 255.255.255.0
./ipmitool lan set 1 defgw ipaddr 172.16.1.1
./ipmitool lan set 1 arp respond on
./ipmitool lan set 1 arp generate on
./ipmitool lan set 1 arp interval 60

Extra info about using ipmitool and controlling the fans on this motherboard at https://blog.chaospixel.com/linux/2016/09/Fan-control-on-Asrock-C2750D4I-C2550D4I-board.html