Error "Unable to authenticate user. Please try again" when logging into a Virtual Appliance Management Interface (VAMI)

Products

• VMware Aria Suite

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Logging in to the VMware Appliance Management interface over port 5480 fails.
• The following error is seen:
  
  Unable to authenticate user. Please try again
   
• The vRealize Automation instance has been running for one atleast one year since first boot/power on or for one year since root password is changed.
• SSH connections succeed using this same username and password.
• The existing password in use was not lost and is known.
• When running "chage -l root" the date expiry has lapsed.

Environment

VMware vRealize Automation 7.x
VMware vRealize Automation 6.2.x

Cause

This issue occurs when the root password expires. The appliance root account password expiration is defined to be 365 days. If the password is not changed before this time passes the root user cannot log in to the Appliance management console.

Resolution

This is a known issue affecting VMware vRealize Automation 6.x and 7.x. Currently, there is no resolution.

Workaround:

To work around this issue, unexpire the root password:

1. SSH (Putty / OpenSSH) into the appliance using the expired root account credentials.

Note:  If you do not have the root password, follow the instructions under this article: "How to reset or recover the root password on a VMware vRealize 7.x appliance"

1. Reset the password by running the command:
   
   passwd root
    
2. This resets the password for another 365 days. To extend the expiry date see the command below:
   
   chage -M numOfDays root
   
   Note: This may pose a security risk so ensure that you verify with your internal policies prior to setting.
    
3. To check the password settings, run this command:
   
   chage -l root