linux VM freezes, but no clues in "Tasks & Events"

We have an Ubuntu VM on ESXi that occasionally freezes.  VM appears to be running from an ESX perspective, but user interactions are frozen.

Clearly I have to increase the debug level to the Ubuntu syslog, keep one ssh session logged in, maybe send top output to a file, etc.  All to get more clues from Ubuntu.

But from an ESX perspective, is there a way to increase the verbosity to the "Tasks & Events" view for the VM in vCenter to see if ESX senses anything?

Thanks....Lyle