vSphere Client/vSphere Web Client fails to connect to vCenter Server and reports the error: Could not create SSL/TLS secure channel

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• The vSphere Client or vSphere Web Client fails to connect to vCenter Server.
• You see the error:
  
  vSphere Client could not connect to vCenter_Server_Name. An unknown connection error occurred. (The request failed due to an SSL error. (The request was aborted: Could not create SSL/TLS secure channel.))
  
  
• In the vpxd.log file, you see entries similar to:
  
  warning 'Libs'] SSLSystemVerifyDERCert: Failed to create a Win32 certificate context for the peer sertificate. LastError = -2146885630
  warning 'Libs'] SSLSystemVerifyDERCert: Failed to create a Win32 certificate context for the peer sertificate. LastError = -2146885630
  warning 'Libs'] SSLSystemVerifyDERCert: Failed to create a Win32 certificate context for the peer sertificate. LastError = -2146885630
  
  Notes:
  • For more infomation on log locations, see Location of vCenter Server log files 1021804).

  • The preceding log excerpts are only examples. Date, time, and environmental variables may vary depending on your environment.

Cause

This issue occurs if the SSL certificate was generated/installed on any of these dates:

• 1st January
• 1st March
• 1st May
• 1st July
• 1st October
• 1st December

Resolution

This issue is resolved in vCenter Server 5.1.0a and later.

 

To work around the issue when you are unable to upgrade, regenerate the SSL certificate for a date that is not in any of these 7 days.

 

Additional Information

Location of vCenter Server log files