6.5

Table Of Contents
Channel Drops
When the VMware Channel loses connection between the servers, the following scenarios can occur.
Performance Issues
Poor performance can be experienced as a result of a channel loss.
Problem
The message java.io.IOException: An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
appears in the active server's NFLog.txt file, and the VMware Channel connection between the servers
is lost.
Cause
This unusual condition points to an application or Windows experiencing a fault on the passive server. A
sudden restart of the passive server can occur due to the following causes:
The server is congured for automatic software update management and some updates force the server
to restart
A software or Operating System issue that occasionally fails and requires a system restart
The VMware vCenter Server Heartbeat service experiences problems, does not respond, or terminates
unexpectedly
Solution
To resolve the issue, perform the following checks.
1 Determine the likely source by examining the Windows event logs.
2 If the server does not display evidence of a system restart or unresponsive application, one or both of the
VMware Channel NICs could be forcing a channel disconnection. See “Hardware or Driver Issues on
VMware Channel NICs,” on page 90 for more information on this topic.
Passive Server Does Not Meet Minimum Hardware Requirements
Inadequate hardware can cause channel drops and result in poor performance.
Problem
The data rate between the servers is very fast during a Full System Check and the VMware Channel drops.
Cause
The passive server does not meet the recommended hardware requirements for vCenter Server Heartbeat or
it meets the requirements, but is much less powerful than the active server. The underpowered server cannot
apply the received replication data from the active server at the rate that the data is sent to the passive server.
Solution
To avoid reinstalling vCenter Server Heartbeat, upgrade the hardware, such as memory or CPU, on the
passive server. Establish the identity (Primary or Secondary) of the aected server before you perform
the upgrade.
VMware, Inc. 89
Chapter 10 Troubleshooting