vCenter system logs are occasionally used for troubleshooting vCommander® issues, as it becomes necessary to understand what happened on the vCenter. You can retrieve the system logs using either the thick client or the web client. The results will be a set of archive files, one for each host and one for the client machine used.
Thick Client
Follow this process if you have the vSphere thick client installed. Note that the retrieval time varies based on a number of factors, such as the overall occupancy of your hosts and the activity level in your environment.
- Login to the vSphere client and under the File menu, choose Export > Export System Logs.
- Check the top level of the tree in the System Log section. Check Include information from vCenter Server and vSphere Client. Click Next.
- Click Select All and check Gather Performance Data. Click Next.
- Enter a location to which the logs will be downloaded, or use the Browse... control to select the destination. Click Next.
- Click Finish.
Web Client
Follow this process to use the vSphere web client. Note that the retrieval time varies based on a number of factors, such as the overall occupancy of your hosts and the activity level in your environment.
- Login to the vSphere web client.
- In the Navigator pane, click vCenter Inventory Lists.
- Under Resources click vCenter Servers.
- Select the server from which you wish to retrieve the logs, and switch to the Monitor tab.
- Choose the System Logs subtab and click Export System Logs.
- On the first page of the Export Logs wizard, select all hosts for which you want logging. If you are unsure, select all. Check Include vCenter Server and vSphere Web Client Logs and click Next.
- If the host does not support manifest exports of log files, all system log files are exported and you will receive a notice about this on the second page of the wizard.
- Click Select All and check Gather performance data. Click Generate Log Bundle and wait for the Generating.... dialog to complete.
Click Finish.