vCenter HA reconfiguration fails with a general system error occurred: Failed to ssh connect per node.

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vCenter Server 8.0

Issue/Introduction

• vCenter HA reconfiguration will fail with the error "Error: A general system error occurred: Failed to ssh connect per node <vCenter> "
  
  
  Note: The IP Address mentioned is only the example IP of the VC.
  
  

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 7.x
VMware vCenter Server 8.x

Cause

This issue occurs when the VCHA is destroyed and it's traces are still there in the vCenter.

Resolution

1. Login to vCenter via SSH using root credentials.
2. Then cd to .ssh directory.
   • cd .ssh
3. List the files and look for known_hosts file using ls -ltrh command.
4. Make a backup of known_hosts file.
   • cp known_hosts known_hosts.bak
5. Clear the contents of the file known_hosts using below command.
   • vi known_hosts
   • Press i (to go to insert mode).
   • Delete all the contents of that file.
   • Then type :wq! and hit Enter (to save the file)
6. Restart VCHA deployment process.