Problems with applying ntp service configuration

[eholtz]

Hi folks,

I'm stuck at configuring the ntp service to get started by default on an esxi server via perl.

This is what I'm trying to do:

my $hostServiceConfig = new HostServiceConfig(serviceId => 'ntpd', startupPolicy => 'on');

my $hsca=[];

push (@$hsca,$hostServiceConfig);

my $hostConfigSpec = new HostConfigSpec(service => $hsca );

my $taskRef=$hostProfileManager->ApplyHostConfig_Task(host => $host, configSpec => $hostConfigSpec);

When I ask for the status the command fails with:

SOAP Fault:

-----------

Fault string: The operation is not allowed in the current state.

Fault detail: InvalidState

I assume I'm just missing some little detail. Maybe someone sees my mistake right away :-)

[William Lam]

Not sure if you've seen this sample here, but it may help http://www.virtuallyghetto.com/2010/07/new-way-of-enabling-and-disabling.html

[eholtz]

Thanks for that link, I did not find that.

The code itself does not help, because it only starts and stops the service, but doesn't set the startup policy when the ESX host restarts. The guy in the answers seems to have solved the problem - maybe he'll help me out :-)

[dermoth]

Hi eholtz,

Here's the code I added to hostServiceManagement.pl (IIRC!):

1. Check startup policy:

sub checkServiceEnabled {
        my ($serviceSystem,$service) = @_;

        my $services = $serviceSystem->serviceInfo->service;

        foreach(@$services) {
                if($_->key eq $service) {
                        return $_->policy;
                }
        }
        return 0;
}

2. Then to disable the service:

my $policy = &checkServiceEnabled($serviceSystem,$service);
if($policy eq "on") {
        eval {
                $serviceSystem->UpdateServicePolicy(id => $service, policy => "off");
                print "\t" . color("cyan") . "Successfully disabled $service\n" . color("reset");
        };
        if($@) {
                print "\t" . color("red") . "Error: Unable to change startup policy on service \"$service\" due to: " . $@ . color("reset") . "\n";
        }
}elsif($policy eq "off") {
        print "\t" . color("yellow") . "$service is already disabled" . color("reset") . "\n";
} else {
        print "\t" . color("red") . "Error: Unknown startup policy \"$policy\"" . color("reset") . "\n";
}

And to enable:

my $policy = &checkServiceEnabled($serviceSystem,$service);
if($policy eq "off") {
        eval {
                $serviceSystem->UpdateServicePolicy(id => $service, policy => "on");
                print "\t" . color("cyan") . "Successfully enabled $service\n" . color("reset");
        };
        if($@) {
                print "\t" . color("red") . "Error: Unable to change startup policy on service \"$service\" due to: " . $@ . color("reset") . "\n";                     }

}elsif($policy eq "on") {
        print "\t" . color("yellow") . "$service is already enabled" . color("reset") . "\n";
} else {
        print "\t" . color("red") . "Error: Unknown startup policy \"$policy\"" . color("reset") . "\n";
}

P.s.: based on your current score you should be able to PM me now...

Regards,

--

Thomas

[eholtz]

Hi Thomas,

many thanks - that worked for me :-)

Best regards,

eholtz

[dermoth]

Hi lamw,

This reply should really belong to the other post - https://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-11656 - unfortunately I cannot attach files to replies there (?!) and I don't have the score required to send PM's (so sorry for hijacking another thread...)

I have updated your script to enable/disable services in addition to start/stop them. I attached the full script, as well as a patch from the initial copy I downloaded.

$ md5sum hostServiceManagement.pl*
66b97f2c4230d7717813b42821b57b3d *hostServiceManagement.pl
4047cd45b8cf52b846cdd846dad6bc4b *hostServiceManagement.pl.new
98c27856e1d13ed33810d8577bd49401 *hostServiceManagement.pl.patch

Regards,

--

Thomas