DevTest Kafka SASL patch fails with java.lang.Object: null message

Products

• Service Virtualization

Issue/Introduction

As mentioned in the documentation we have received a patch from Broadcom support for Kafka SASL.
https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/ca-enterprise-software/devops/devtest-solutions/10-6/post-10-6-updates.html#concept.dita_fea35d38-3efa-4793-88f6-caeda926f020_KafkaConnection

After implementing this patch and configuring the necessary assets, when trying to Send a Kafka message, there is a message: 
Error: Could not convert the following value to type java.lang.Object: null

Environment

Release : 10.6

Component : CA Service Virtualization

Resolution

Follow the instructions for Kafka Advanced Use Cases as documented here:

https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/ca-enterprise-software/devops/devtest-solutions/10-6/reference/test-step-descriptions/apache-kafka-steps/kafka-advanced-use-cases.html#concept.dita_a1bfdcf366a8197e41d8182289a588aea91cca6d_Serializers

As mentioned in this documentation, if Serializers are used then configure these with 'custom' and enter the Serializer classes like:
Key Serializer Class Name: org.apache.kafka.common.serialization.StringSerializer
Value Serializer Class Name: io.confluent.kafka.serializers.json.KafkaJsonSchemaSerializer

Also configure a DevTest Property Reference for the Key in the Send Receive step.
This is to configure a DevTest property for the data object used by the Serializer.

Additional Information

The resolution for the issue of error "Could not convert the following value to type java.lang.Object: [email protected]" is setting lisa.experimental=true in local.properties.