Unable to monitor database storage usage

[komanek]

Hello,

I just updated vCenter Server from 5.5U1 to 5.5U2b. In "Service Health" there is new warning message:

"Unable to monitor database storage usage. Refer to VMware KB 2078305 for details."

I am using MS SQL 2008 R2 SP1 Express, which is supported by this version of vCenter. There is also plenty of free space on the server disk (63 GB free). KB 2078305 does not explain this particular warning message and the retention policy for task and events data is also set.

So what should be the problem ? What are the conditions to trigger this warning ?

Thanks,

  David

[jogits]

I am going to report in here as well.

I am from time to time seeing this issue aswell. I have an open SR with VMware at the moment to resolve this and have received some SQL queries to run that should solve the problem. Awaiting my DBA to execute them and see if the issue is solved.

Will report back.

[komanek]

Hello and thanks in advance.

Yesterday, a performed an upgrade of another vCenter, which uses Oracle as a database - in that case there is no such warning. So I suppose the problem is MS SQL related, maybe just for the "express" edition, but as they state it is supported database, I am not sure. There is an limit in "express" edition of 10GB per database, but I'm using less than 50% of it.

David

[jogits]

Hello again

We applied a fix yesterday to our MSSQL server (this is a full blown MS SQL 2012 clustered solution so no database size limits) but unfortunately this did not resolve all our issues. I have not seen the "database storage monitoring" warning since so for that matter it may be fixed.

There should be a KB coming out sometime in the future was what I was told.

[jogits]

Hello

After having fixed the database monitoring error we were still seeing a Health Service Monitoring error from time to time (once a week).

This issue should be resolved in vCenter 5.5 U2d and my case has been archived until we have updated to that release.

So all in all. A KB should be coming out for the Database Monitoring error and the other should be fixed in 5.5U2d.

Hope this helps.

[komanek]

Hello,

I am already on 5.5u2d, but the warning is still there. If the soulution is to upgrade do MS SQL 2012 non-express edition, it is probably better for me to monitor the database usage percentage by an independent script and ignore the warning, but I'll wait for the KB first.

Best regards,

David

[bsobczyk]

Hello,

I just udate to vCenter Server 5.5 Update 2d, and I've got the same error on Vcenter Srervice Health Status. My DB is SQL 2008 R2 SP2

Any ideas ?

BS

[jogits]

Hello David and BS

It was not a database upgrade but rather some permissions that the user connecting to the database was missing. The KB should probably show this.

If you can't wait I'd suggest contacting VMware support to get the fix now.

[bsobczyk]

Thanks a lot Jogits You are right, I used google and find solution on blog bellow

I set permission sql db:

use master

go

grant VIEW SERVER STATE to [vpxuser]

go

GRANT VIEW ANY DEFINITION TO [vpxuser]

go

and after

restart Vcenter, and now is GREEN :smileyhappy:

Fixing vCenter 5.5 server’s database usage monitoring issue in service health status | Salt * Wet * Bytes

[komanek]

Hello,

thanks a lot! It worked for me and the yellow warning changed to red alert similar to the one in the blog you cited :-)

In my case, the cause was not inssuficient disk space on the server's disk, but the fact vCenter checks for the size of the database file in the filesystem, not the real amount of data in it. So if I have sql express with 10 GB limit, the database file is 9.2 GB and sql server management studio shows the real data is just 4 GB in it, the alert is still issued. Shrinking database file was the final solution, which means that operation could be needed run periodically.

Thank you very much for your help.

David