To restart the services in ESXi 5x using command line:

~ # /sbin/services.sh restart

To check the status of vCenter Server Appliance services:

1. Connect to the vCenter Server Appliance through SSH.
2. Log in as root. (default password: VMware)
3. Run this command in the SSH client:

VCenterV55:~ # service –-status-all

1. Scroll through the output to check the status of all services.

To check the status of a specific service:

1. Run this command to review the list of all services:

VCenterV55:~ # ls /etc/init.d

1. Scroll through the output and find the name of the service you are interested in. For a list of core vCenter Server services, see the Additional Information section of this article.
2. Run this command in the SSH client:

VCenterV55:~ # service [ServiceName] status

For example:

VCenterV55:~ # service vmware-vpxd status
vmware-vpxd is running
tomcat is running 

Note: The tomcat service is within the vmware-vpxd service. You can check the status of tomcat by checking the status of vmware-vpxd. This service can be stopped and started outside of the vmware-vpxd service by running these commands:

vmware-vpxd tomcat-stop 
vmware-vpxd tomcat-start

To stop a vCenter Server Appliance service if it has started:

Run this command to stop a service:

VCenterV55:~ # service [ServiceName] stop

Note: When you stop the VMware VirtualCenter Server service (vmware-vpxd), all connected users are disconnected from their session.

To start a vCenter Server Appliance service:

Run this command to start a service:

VCenterV55:~ # service [ServiceName] start

Note: If the VMware VirtualCenter Server service does not start, verify that it is able to get exclusive access to the vCenter Server repository. For more information, see Unable to get an exclusive access to the vCenter Server repository (1006369).

To restart a vCenter Server Appliance service:

Run this command to restart a service:

VCenterV55:~ # service [ServiceName] restart

Note: When you restart the VMware VirtualCenter Server service, all connected users are disconnected from their vSphere/Virtual Infrastructure Client sessions.

To list the vCenter Server Appliance services within the vSphere Web Client:

1.Log in to the vSphere Web Client with a vCenter Single Sign-on administrator account. 2.Navigate to Administration > Deployment > System Configuration. 3.Click Nodes, select the vCenter Server Appliance node and click the Related Objects tab.

To list the vCenter Server Appliance services using the command-line:

1.Log in as root through an SSH or console session on the vCenter Server Appliance. 2.Run this command to enable the shell:

VCenterV6:~ # shell.set --enabled true

3.Run this command to launch the shell:

VCenterV6:~ # shell

4.Run this to change directories to /bin:

VCenterV6:~ # cd /bin

5.Run this command to list the vCenter Server Appliance services:

VCenterV6:~ # service-control --list

6.To view the current status of the vCenter Server Appliance services, type the command:

VCenterV6:~ # service-control --status

To start the vCenter Server Appliance service if it is was stopped using the vSphere Web Client: 1.Log in to the vSphere Web Client with a vCenter Single Sign-on administrator account. 2.Navigate to Administration > Deployment > System Configuration. 3.Click Nodes, select the vCenter Server Appliance node and click the Related Objects tab. 4.Right-click on the service you would like to start and select Start.

To start the vCenter Server Appliance service if it is was stopped using the command-line:

1.Log in as root through an SSH or console session on the vCenter Server Appliance. 2.Run this command to enable the shell:

VCenterV6:~ # shell.set --enabled true
VCenterV6:~ # shell
VCenterV6:~ # cd /bin
VCenterV6:~ # service-control --list

6.Run this command to start a specific service:

service-control –start servicename

7.You may also start all services by typing the command:

service-control –start –all

8.To perform a dry run of the command, add the option –dry-run to the command. This will display what actions the command will run without executing the actions. For example, type the command:

service-control –start –all –dry-run

To stop a vCenter Server Appliance service if it was started using the vSphere Web Client: 1.Log in to the vSphere Web Client with a vCenter Single Sign-on administrator account. 2.Navigate to Administration > Deployment > System Configuration. 3.Click Nodes, select the vCenter Server Appliance node and click the Related Objects tab. 4.Right-click on the service you would like to stop and select Stop.

To stop the vCenter Server Appliance service if it is was started using the command-line:

1.Log in as root through an SSH or console session on the vCenter Server Appliance. 2.Run this command to enable the shell:

VCenterV6:~ # shell.set --enabled true
VCenterV6:~ # shell
VCenterV6:~ # cd /bin
VCenterV6:~ # service-control --list

6.Run this command to stop a specific service:

VCenterV6:~ # service-control --stop servicename

7.You may also stop all services by typing the command:

VCenterV6:~ # service-control --stop --all

8.To perform a dry run of the command, add the option –dry-run to the command. This will display what actions the command will run without executing the actions. For example, type the command:

VCenterV6:~ # service-control --stop --all --dry-run

To restart a vCenter Server Appliance service using the vSphere Web Client: 1.Log in to the vSphere Web Client with a vCenter Single Sign-on administrator account. 2.Navigate to Administration > Deployment > System Configuration. 3.Click Nodes, select the vCenter Server Appliance node and click the Related Objects tab. 4.Right-click on the service you want to restart and select Restart.

To restart a vCenter Server and/or Platform Services Controller service using the command-line:

1.Log in as root through an SSH or console session on the vCenter Server Appliance. 2.Run this command to enable the shell:

VCenterV6:~ # shell.set --enabled true
VCenterV6:~ # shell
VCenterV6:~ # cd /bin
VCenterV6:~ # service-control --list

6.Run this command to stop a specific service:

VCenterV6:~ # service-control --stop servicename

7.You may also stop all services by typing the command:

VCenterV6:~ # service-control --stop --all

8.Run this command to start a specific service:

VCenterV6:~ # service-control --start servicename

9.You may also start all services by typing the command:

VCenterV6:~ # service-control --start --all