VCSA vmware-vpxd Service Won't Restart After Upgrading to 6.0 U2

You navigate to the VMware Web Client and you get this 503 Error:

503 Service Unavailable (Failed to connect to endpoint: [N7Vmacore4Http20NamedPipeServiceSpecE:0x7fe4a805cc90] _serverNamespace = / _isRedirect = false _pipeName =/var/run/vmware/vpxd-webserver-pipe)

Cause: (SSL Certificates wouldn’t issue automatically after reboot for service vmware-vpxd

Compounded Problem: (Clearing logs under ~/.* **root**) – Specifically, clearing ~/.pgpass 

(Lesson Learned: NEVER EVER CLEAR FILES UNDER ~/. Except .bash_history on templates creation only!!!)

Fix: Kill all the services running vpxd

1. ps -ef | grep vpxd

2. kill ###

3. Re-add the ~/.pgpass file with the PostGreSQL password

4. vi /et c/vmware-vpx/embedded_db.cfg

5. Copy the password you see between PGUSER_PASSWORD=’password here‘

6. Put the password back in ~/.pgpass

localhost:5432:VCDB:postgres: password here

localhost:5432:postgres:postgres: password here

localhost:5432:VCDB:vc: password here

7. Check /etc/hosts and make sure config is there. 10.10.10.10 hostname.domain.com hostname 

8. service vmware-vpxd status (make sure it’s not running)

9. service vmware-vpxd start

hostname:~ # service vmware-vpxd start

vmware-vpxd: VC SSL Certificate does not exist, it will be generated by vpxd

Waiting for the embedded database to start up: success

Executing pre-startup scripts...

vmware-vpxd: Starting vpxd by administrative request.

success

vmware-vpxd: Waiting for vpxd to start listening for requests on 8089

Waiting for vpxd to initialize: ...success

vmware-vpxd: vpxd has initialized.

hostname:~ # service vmware-vpxd status

vmware-vpxd is running

10. That's it!!!

Reference:

https://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2056968

https://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2073717

https://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2018902

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How to Convert a CD/DVD to an ISO File

Do you need to convert a CD or DVD to an ISO file for a virtual environment, etc?

Windows:

1. Download InfraRecorder (Be aware of Junkware for FOSS Software on Windows). IR is on the GPL: http://infrarecorder.org/?page_id=5

2. Install the InfraRecorder Software (Next...Next...Done)

3. Launch the Application

4. Click on "Read Disc"

5. Select your location to save the .ISO file

6. Let it finish....it's baking! =)

7. Click Ok. Upload, Save or do whatever with the ISO! You can also create a bootable USB. (I use Rufus...it's reliable and fast: http://rufus.akeo.ie/ )

Ubuntu Linux or Mac: Refer to this Article on HowToGeek

http://www.howtogeek.com/228886/how-to-create-iso-files-from-discs-on-windows-mac-and-linux/

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How to enable VMware Update Manager in the vSphere Web Client

HP VIB Depot (New): http://vibsdepot.hpe.com/index.xml   

Dell VIM Depot: http://vmwaredepot.dell.com/index.xml

Thanks Jon Munday for the links! 

1. Make sure that you are using and have VMware vCenter Single Sign On enabled and active.



2. Verify that you have VMware Update Manager enabled as a plugin (verify that you are running the latest version of VUM. This release is after 6.0U1a. *Remember that you have to have the permissions to see the VMware Update Manager. If you don't see it under your account, check the permissions.



3. After you have verified that you have the latest version of VMware Update Manager* installed on your Update Manager Server (*This runs from a Windows Server. VMware Update Manager is NOT integrated into the VCSA appliance yet).

4. When you log in. You should see the VMware Update Manager under Monitoring.



5. Navigate and operate as normal.



6. VMware KB for issues with custom SSL certificates:

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2054748

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How to Uninstall Software Remotely via Command Line on Windows Using WMIC

1. Open PowerShell or Command Prompt - (Run As Administrator)

2. > wmic

3. >/node:HOSTNAME product get name,version (*This pulls the list of installed software on the workstation)

4. >/node:HOSTNAME product where name=”Package Name” call uninstall

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How to Hide a Background in Visio 2013

1. Enable Developer Tools

2. Create Your Background and Customization File

3. Lock it down. (Enable Drawing Explorer)

4. Right click on the file name (C:\Users\etc...) and click "Protect Document" and then pick "Backgrounds". This is the Microsoft recommended method: http://goo.gl/PxS9EC 

5. Before you save the document as a template. Make sure that you open one page and select background.

6. Save and close. Your now good to go.

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How to Fix /storage/core filesystem Out of Disk Space Error on VCSA 6.0U1

How to fix the error of "The /storage/core filesystem is out of disk space or inodes"

Step 1: Login to the new VCSA 6.0U1 HTML5 web client. https://ip address:5480

Step 2: Enable SSH and Bash Shell

Step 3: Login as root and type "shell" at Command> shell

Step 4: df -h (Check if it's out of space)

/dev/mapper/core_vg-core               50G   50G     0 100% /storage/core

Step 5: Stop the services of VCSA: 

hostname: # service vmware-vpxd stop

hostname: # service vmware-vpxd status (make sure it is stopped)

Step 6:  cd /storage/core

Step 7: rm -rf *.tgz (be CAREFUL...do this in the wrong directory and you will be retrieving from a backup.)

If you need help. Go to Cybercity (http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/delete-all-files-folder-linux/) 

Step 8: service vmware-vpxd restart

Step 9: history -c

Step 10: Refresh the browser (https://ip address:5480). Now it's all green

VMware KB: (How to increase space) http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2056764 

VMware VCSA 6.0U1 Patch Download: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2119924

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How To Add Google Back to Default Search After Accidental Deletion

If you have accidentally deleted my dear sweetheart Google from Google Chrome.

The way that you put it back is to go to the "Hamburger" --) Settings --) Manage Engines and then re-add Google back.

After you type "https://www.google.com/ add the following "search?q=%s" and then make it Default.

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