Logging into the vSphere Update Manager Utility fails with the error: Enter a valid server name

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• When you attempt to log into vSphere Update Manager Utility, it fails with the error:
  
  Enter a valid server name
  
  
• You are able to successfully log in when you use an IP address or only the vCenter Server host name (without a TLD extension) in the vCenter Server IP Address or Name field.
  
  
• Logging in using an FQDN in the vCenter Server IP Address or Name field works when the top level domain (TLD) belongs to a defined set of well-known TLDs.

Environment

VMware vCenter Update Manager 5.1.x

Cause

This message is displayed if the specified FQDN does not end with a defined set of well-known top level domains (TLDs), such as .com or .org. TLDs such as .local or .corp, among others, are not part of this defined set.

Resolution

This functionality is incorporated into the VMware vSphere Update Manager Utility, and it is the expected behavior.

To work around this issue:

If the FQDN for your vCenter Server does not end with a well-known TLD, use the IP address or just the host name instead.