Error: "Service Unavailable for url: https://localhost:443/wcp" when attempting to backup vCenter

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vCenter Server 7.0

Issue/Introduction

vCenter Server backup fails with below entries in /var/log/vmware/applmgmt/backup.log:

2023-09-12T23:59:23.535 [20230912-155905-20395099] [ComponentScriptsBackup:PID-49880] [Log::run:Log.py:64] ERROR: 503 Server Error: Service Unavailable for url: https://localhost:443/wcp

2023-09-12T23:59:23.803 [20230912-155905-20395099] [ComponentScriptsBackup:PID-49880] [ComponentScripts::ComponentScriptsBackup:ComponentScripts.py:88] ERROR: Component backup command "/etc/vmware/backup/component-scripts/wcp/wcp_backup_restore.py --startBackup" failed 1.

2023-09-12T23:59:23.803 [20230912-155905-20395099] [ComponentScriptsBackup:PID-49880] [ComponentScripts::ComponentScriptsBackup:ComponentScripts.py:115] ERROR: Error during component wcp backup

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 7.0.x

Cause

This is due to the wcp service being unavailable.

Resolution

To resolve this, ensure the wcp service is running.

1. SSH to the vCenter via root
2. Check the status of the wcp service
   
   service-control --status wcp
   
   
3. If the wcp service is stopped, try to manually start it:
   
   service-control --start wcp


4. Otherwise, restart the wcp service.
   
   service-control --stop wcp; service-control --start wcp


5. After the wcp service has successfully started, run the backup again.