Collecting VPLEX Logs

Collect VPLEX diagnostics (often called CD logs) through the CLI on the management server.

1. Connect to the VPLEX management IP over SSH using the service account.
2. Run vplexcli to enter the VPLEX CLI.
3. Run collect-diagnostics and wait until the command finishes.
4. Use WinSCP or another SFTP client to download the new files from /diag/collect-diagnostics-out/ on the management server.

Diagnostic files

The base package is typically several hundred megabytes; the extended package can be several gigabytes and contains dump data that may require specialist tools. Dell recommends collecting both. Transfer the base package first so analysis can begin while the extended package is downloading.

On VPLEX Metro, run collection on each management server in sequence. Do not run it on both management servers at the same time.

Example session from the source guide

The following captures retain the original output, including its --notextend spelling and malformed date. They are historical captures, not commands to copy. In the linked GeoSynchrony 6.2 SP1 reference, the option for omitting extended diagnostics is --noextended. Check the command help for the installed version before selecting an option.

Log in and enter the CLI:

login as: service
Using keyboard-interactive authentication.
Password:
service@ManagementServer:->vplexcli
Trying 1xx.0.x.1..
Connected to localhost.
username: service
password:
creating logfile:/var/log/VPlex/cli/session .log service localhost XXXX2502XXX3

Historical collection output:

VPlexcli:/> collect-diagnostics --notextend
2023-05-12 16:04:22 UTC:****|nitializing collect-diagnostics..
202315-05-12 16:04:24 UTC: No cluster-witness server found.
2023-05-12 16:04:24 UTC: No recoverpoint appliances found.
2023-05-12 16:04:24 UTC: Free space = 25.86GB
2023-05-12 16:04:24 UTC: Total space needed = 1.98GB
2023-05-12 16:04:25 UTC: No cluster-witness server found.
=============================================
Starting collect-diagnostics, this operation might take a while...

=============================================
Executing Fast trace..           OK
Executing SMS log collection ..              OK
Executing director tracepath ..              OK
Executing health check..                      OK
Executing debug tower-dump ..            OK

After the CLI prompt returns, retrieve the newly generated packages from /diag/collect-diagnostics-out/ with WinSCP.

Reference: Dell VPLEX GeoSynchrony 6.2 SP1: collect-diagnostics.