Hi,
We run VMware vCenter 4.1 with 3 ESX hosts, and 50 VMs. vCenter is running on Windows 2008 R2, with SQL 2005 Express SP2.
Yesterday our virtual backup failed, saying it couldn't connect to the vCenter agent. When I looged into the issue, it appeared that the vCenter Server service had stopped. Up on further investigation it appears that the SQL Express database had reached 4GB in size, which is the limited, and this caused the vCenter service to fall over.
I've checked some forum posts, and have performed the following:
- Set a database retention policy for tasks & events, this was originally un-checked, but I have checked it, and set it to 90 days initially, and now 30 days.
- Found a script on the VMware forum called VCDB_table_cleanup_MSSQL_V4.X.sql which can cleanup the database. I set it to delete data older (changing SET @DELETE_DATA = 1) than 90 days, and it removed 130,000+ rows.
- Performed a database shrink & file shrink on the data file - this only got me back 9mb?
- Performed a database shrink & file shrink on the log file - this got back a little more, about 100mb.
- Changed the log file size from 460mb to 1024mb, in the database properties > files settings.
However, even after all of the above, when I restart the server, or stop & start the vCenter service, the following errors are logged in the application log:
-------------------------------------------
Log Name: Application
Source: MSSQL$SQLEXP_VIM
Date: 16/08/2011 08:51:44
Event ID: 1827
Task Category: (2)
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: SYSTEM
Description:
CREATE DATABASE or ALTER DATABASE failed because the resulting cumulative database size would exceed your licensed limit of 4096 MB per database.
-------------------------------------------
Log Name: Application
Source: MSSQL$SQLEXP_VIM
Date: 16/08/2011 08:51:44
Event ID: 1105
Task Category: (2)
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: SYSTEM
Description:
Could not allocate space for object 'dbo.VPX_BINARY_DATA'.'PK_VPX_BIN_DATA' in database 'VIM_VCDB' because the 'PRIMARY' filegroup is full. Create disk space by deleting unneeded files, dropping objects in the filegroup, adding additional files to the filegroup, or setting autogrowth on for existing files in the filegroup.
-------------------------------------------
Log Name: Application
Source: VMware VirtualCenter Server
Date: 16/08/2011 08:51:44
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Description:
The description for Event ID 1000 from source VMware VirtualCenter Server cannot be found. Either the component that raises this event is not installed on your local computer or the installation is corrupted. You can install or repair the component on the local computer.
If the event originated on another computer, the display information had to be saved with the event.
The following information was included with the event:
[Ldap] Failed to save LDAP backup data to database: "ODBC error: (42000) - [Microsoft][SQL Native Client][SQL Server]Could not allocate space for object 'dbo.VPX_BINARY_DATA'.'PK_VPX_BIN_DATA' in database 'VIM_VCDB' because the 'PRIMARY' filegroup is full. Create disk space by deleting unneeded files, dropping objects in the filegroup, adding additional files to the filegroup, or setting autogrowth on for existing files in the filegroup." is returned when executing SQL statement "INSERT INTO VPX_BINARY_DATA WITH (ROWLOCK) (ID, DATA_TYPE, BIN_DATA, CREATED_TIME, CHANGE_ID) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)"
the message resource is present but the message is not found in the string/message table
-------------------------------------------
Can anyone provide another solution to this issue? We need to be able to perform a successful backup!
Any help or suggestions appreciated!
Ben