Unable to re-register the vSphere Replication server with vCenter Server

Products

• VMware Live Recovery
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides steps to work around the issue when you are unable to re-register vSphere Replication Server with vCenter Server.

Symptoms:

• Unable to register the vSphere Replication server with vCenter Server.
• vSphere Replication operations are unavailable even if you reinstall vCenter Server.
• You see the error:
  
  unable to obtain SSL certificate: Bad server response; is a LookupService listening on the given address?

Environment

VMware vSphere Replication 5.5.x
VMware vSphere Replication 5.8.x
VMware vSphere Replication 5.1.x

Cause

This issue occurs because vSphere Replication server is unable to get vCenter Server info from the OVF.

The OVF environment for the vSphere Replication appliance is stored in the vCenter Server database. When the ESXi host is removed from the vCenter Server Inventory, the OVF environment for the vSphere Replication appliance is lost. This action disables the mechanisms that the vSphere Replication appliance uses to authenticate with vCenter Server.

Resolution

Note: Before re-registering the service, validate these:

• NTP (System Time synchronization)
• DNS records and shortnames
• Also, ensure you populate the VC/Lookup service address along with the FQDN on the VR server's /etc/hosts.

To work around this issue, use any one of these options:

• Redeploy the vSphere Replication appliance and configure all replications. If possible, reuse the existing .vmdk files as initial copies.
  
  
  1. Power off the old vSphere Replication appliances.
  2. Remove any temporary hbr* files from the target datastore folders.
  3. Deploy new vSphere Replication appliances and connect the sites.
  4. Configure all replications, reusing the existing replica .vmdk files as initial copies.
     
     
• If you cannot redeploy the vSphere Replication appliance, use the VAMI to connect vSphere Replication to the original vCenter Server instance:
  
  
  1. Reconnect the ESXi host to vCenter Server.
  2. Connect to the VAMI of the vSphere Replication server at https://vr_server_address:5480.
  3. Select the Configuration tab.
  4. Type username:password@vcenter_server_address in vCenter Server Address.
     
     Where username and password are credentials of the vCenter Server administrator.
     
     
  5. Type the correct managed object id of the appliance VM in ApplianceVM MO value. Use the vCenter Server MOB to obtain the appliance id.
  6. Click Save and Restart Service.

If you use the VAMI solution, you must repeat the steps each time that you change the vSphere Replication certificate.

Additional Information

For more information, see the vSphere Replication Does Not Start After Moving the Host section in the VMware vSphere Replication Administration Guide.

Impact/Risks: