The PSOD is VMware’s equivalent of the “blue screen” in Windows. It halts the ESXi host and displays diagnostic information in a purple background. One scenario that often triggers a PSOD is a hardware compatibility or driver issue, especially after an upgrade or new hardware deployment.
Root Cause Analysis
Common reasons for a PSOD on boot include:
- Incompatible Drivers: Using a driver version that doesn’t match the hardware or ESXi version.
- Faulty Hardware: Issues with RAM, storage controllers, or network adapters.
- Configuration Errors: Misconfigured BIOS or firmware settings.
- Corrupted Filesystem: Problems with the ESXi boot partition.
Step-by-Step Resolution
- Gather Information from the PSOD Screen
- Note the error message and codes displayed on the PSOD.
- Look for references to specific drivers, memory modules, or hardware.
- Reboot in Recovery Mode
- Restart the host and enter Recovery Mode from the boot menu.
- Check system logs using the esxcli command:
esxcli system syslog view –log /var/log/vmkernel.log
- Verify Hardware Compatibility
- Cross-check the hardware against VMware’s Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) to ensure support for your ESXi version.
- If issues arise, update firmware or replace problematic components.
- Roll Back Drivers
- If a driver is causing the issue, try rolling back to a previous version:
software vib remove -n <driver-name>
- Reboot the host and confirm stability.
- Check for Corrupted Boot Files
- Boot the ESXi installation media and select Repair System.
- Reinstall or repair the ESXi system files without wiping the datastore.
- Update or Patch ESXi
- Check VMware’s knowledge base for patches or updates related to your error code.
- Update your ESXi host:
esxcli software profile update -d <URL-to-depot>
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