Re-try an existing workflow by modifying the workflow spec file

Products

• VMware Cloud Foundation

Issue/Introduction

The SDDC Manager workflow being attempted is failing due to incorrectly provided input configuration. There is no way to edit the configuration from the UI before restarting the task.

This article provides the steps to extract the workflow spec file, make the required changes to it, and re-inject it to the existing workflow so it can be retried with an updated value. 

Environment

VMware Cloud Foundation 4.x

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.x

VMware Cloud Foundation 9.x

Cause

The cause is likely due to incorrectly supplied input configuration either in the JSON input spec, or via the SDDC UI.

Resolution

Ensure snapshots / backups are taken of the required components, at minimum a snapshot of the SDDC Manager.

1. Login the SDDC Manager UI, and click on the failed Task we need to edit and retry.

2. Note the workflow ID, which is the subtasks URL:


3. SSH to the SDDC Manager with the 'vcf' user and then type 'su root'.

 

4 Update the applications.properties file to all access via curl (5.x and 9.x only). 

echo "vcf.vault.http-access=true" >> /etc/vmware/vcf/domainmanager/application.properties
systemctl restart domainmanager

4. Use the following GET API call to retrieve the spec file for the workflow:

curl -k -s http://localhost/domainmanager/internal/vault/<workflow_id_from_url> -X GET | json_pp > /tmp/workflow.json

5. Edit the contents of the workflow.json as needed. Note that there may be several places that need to be updated in the json.

vi /tmp/workflow.json

6. Use the following PUT API call to update the spec file for the workflow:

curl -k -s http://localhost/domainmanager/internal/vault/<workflow_id_from_url> -X PUT -H "Content-type: text/plain" -d @/tmp/workflow.json

7. From the SDDC Manager UI, Restart the Task


8. The task will be attempted again using the new workflow spec file provided.

Additional Information

Impact/Risks:
MODERATE: Depending on the workflow that is being attempted, modifying the workflow manually can have a significant impact to the environment. Please ensure that you have appropriate backups and snapshots of the components involved in the workflow.