ESXi Host configuration backup fails

[unsichtbare]

Recently upgraded to: DELLEMC-ESXi-6.0U3-5224934-A03 and  while trying to create a host configuration backup, I get the following result:

C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware vSphere CLI\bin>vicfg-cfgbackup.pl --server=10.2.1.201 --username=root -s c:\cfgbackup.tgz

Enter password:

Restore failed: A general system error occurred: Internal error

I have tried with the vCLI 6.0, vCLI 6.5. Why does it say "restore" failed????

Also, when I try to run the backup from the host, I get:

[root@esxi1:~] vim-cmd hostsvc/firmware/sync_config

[root@esxi1:~] vim-cmd hostsvc/firmware/backup_config

(vmodl.fault.SystemError) {

   faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null,

   reason = "Internal error",

   msg = "Received SOAP response fault from [<cs p:1f2b6498, TCP:localhost:80>]: backupConfiguration

A general system error occurred: Internal error"

}

[root@esxi1:~]

Any ideas? THX

[mhampto]

Hello,

This thread has a couple ways that others have resolved the backup issue: ESXi 5.0 Host Configuration Backup Problem Using vicfg-cfgbackup.pl

Let me know if this helped or if you are still having this issue.

Matt

[unsichtbare]

I am aware of this thread. Very close, but no solution for me.

Also, this is latest Dell ESXi 6

THX

[MichAda]

we are only on 6.0.0_5224934, but I have the same issue right now with 2 of our 3 new dell r630 replacement host factory installed esxi booting from sd memory.

opened ticket with dell >> pushed to VMware >> will update solution if one is found.

1 of the 3 host seemed to be fine for about 4 days, but it just decided to join the problem this morning.

btw...everything updated in dell lifecycle controller also.

VMware is currently at a loss and are due to call back today/tomorrow.

The workaround for now...manually add the downloads directory into scratch directory:

/scratch/downloads

after that, we can grab backups, but after a host reboot, the manually added downloads dir is gone, and no more backup.

[MichAda]

unsichtbare,

did you ever find a solution?  If so, would you mind posting?

I still have the vmware ticket open but no traction so far.

[unsichtbare]

Open ticket here as well. Hope to get online with VMware this week.

[MichAda]

unsichtbare,

I've tested this on one the problem systems and it resolved my issue.

The downloads directory is now persistent across reboots.

If you are not using Emulex drivers, remove ima-be2escsi and scsi-be2iscsi drivers.

See this link:

VMware vSphere 6 on Dell EMC PowerEdge Servers Release Notes

esxcli software vib remove -n scsi-be2iscsi -n ima-be2iscsi

I plan on rolling this out sometime this week to the other Dell host using Dell 6.0 update 3 image.

[MichAda]

Rolled this out to 6 more host and it fixed every one of them.

[lexit]

I got this exact error message because i missed the downloads folder.

So i created the downloads folder with command: mkdir /scratch/downloads

and i was able to backup the configs without further problems.

It is a pitty that the command doesn't give better error messages