ESXi log files

What is the fastest way to retrieve log files from an ESXi host? In my opinion, the best way is to configure remote logging via syslog server but this requires host reboot to apply configuration changes (KB1016621). The alternative method is to forward log files to different datastore. 

If  you don't have prepared syslog server for remote logging you can use vsphere client and generate system log bundles for particular host. But this takes some time. 

The last method is I think the fastest one because it will allow you to access log files  directly with your web browser. You can use web interface of the ESXi host,  enter the following URL:

https://ESXi_HOST_ADDR/host

The output should looks like shown at this picture:

You can download ESXi log files  messages, hostd.log and vpxa.log  now.

vMA missing libraries

If you are using vMA (vSphere Management Assistant) for some specific management tasks like UPS monitoring  or running a scheduled backup script from cron daemon, you may experience an error similar to this one:

Can't load '/usr/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.8.8/libvmatargetlib_perl.so'
for module vmatargetlib_perl: libtypes.so: cannot open shared object
file: No such file or directory at
/usr/lib64/perl5/5.8.8/x86_64-linux-thread-multi/DynaLoader.pm line 230.
at /usr/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.8.8/VMware/VmaTargetLib.pm line 10
Compilation failed in require at /usr/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.8.8/VMware/VIFPLib.pm line 10.

A reason for such  behaviour is typically caused by some misunderstandings how shell environment in vMA is configured. The most common mistake is testing the affected script with sudo which strips out some environment variables - especially LD_LIBRARY_PATH - due to some security restrictions. Otherwise, the error shouldn't appear because /etc/bashrc exports vmware SDK library path implicitly:

export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:/opt/vmware/vma/lib64:/opt/vmware/vma/lib

So in  case of sudo or other unspecified scenarios throwing the presented error try to create a wrapper script which explicitly exports a list of directories where to search for ELF libraries again:

#!/bin/bash

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/vmware/vma/lib64:/opt/vmware/vma/lib  
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH

/path/to/original-script "$@"

exit $?