"ovftool cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified" error while using vRealize Easy Installer on Mac OS

Products

• VMware Aria Suite

Issue/Introduction

This article provides information on security changes done as part of Mac OS Catalina which prevents Easy Installer to leverage the ovftool.

Symptoms:
Running the vRealize Easy Installer on Mac OS, you see a message similar to:

ovftool cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified.

Environment

VMware vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager 8.x

Cause

This issue occurs due to a security change in Mac OS Catalina which prevents non notarized apps from running.

Resolution

This is a known issue affecting VMware vRealize Lifecycle Manager 8.x.

Currently, there is no resolution.

Workaround:
To work around this issue, follow either one of the workarounds:

Workaround 1

Disable the security until the vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager deployment is completed.

1. Run this command in the terminal:
   
   sudo spctl --master-disable
    
2. In Security and Privacy settings, set Allow apps download from to anywhere.
3. Run sudo xattr -r -d com.apple.quarantine Path_to_the_iso.
   
   For Example:
   
   sudo xattr -r -d com.apple.quarantine ./vra-lcm-installer-16342144.iso
    
4. Mount the ISO and open the UI Installer.
5. Install/Migrate vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager.
6. Execute this command in a terminal:
   
   sudo spctl —master-enable
   
   Note: This will turn the security back on to protect against other unsigned/verified apps.

Workaround 2

Deploy the vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager from a different Windows/Linux machine.