nginx service is not starting after running custom-cert apply in vRealize Network Insight 4.2

Products

• VMware Aria Operations for Networks

Issue/Introduction

This article is to provide steps to be taken in non upgraded deployments of vRealize Network Insight 4.2 where custom-cert apply fails.

Symptoms:

• vRealize Network Insight is version 4.2.
• vRealize Network Insight has not been updated from a previous release.
• ​​While installing a custom certificate, the CLI fails with below error:

(cli) custom-cert apply
inactive
Failed to stop service, Retry...

• Running the show-service-status command shows:

Problem: Nginx service is not running.

Environment

VMware vRealize Network Insight 4.x

Resolution

To resolve this issue, complete the steps below.

1. Log into the vRealize Network Insight Platform VM as the support user via SSH or Console.
2. Run the following command switch to the Ubuntu user:

ub

3. Run the following command to backup the recertify_host.sh file:

cp /home/ubuntu/cli/bin/recertify_host.sh /home/ubuntu/cli/bin/recertify_host.bak

4. Run the following command to make edits to the recertify_host.sh file:

sudo sed -i "71s/ne/eq/" /home/ubuntu/cli/bin/recertify_host.sh

The custom-cert apply command can now be run without issue if the certificate is valid.