vCenter installation failed with error "Failed to run vdcpromo"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• A new installation of vCenter was failing on stage 2 with error "Failed to run vdcpromo".
  
  
  
  
• In the  /var/log/firsrtboot/vmafd-firstboot.py_####_stderr.log


  YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS Initializing Directory server instance ...
  Vdcprono failed. Error -1: Possible errors:
  LDAP crror: Can't contact LDAP scrvcr
  Win Error: Operation failed with error -1 (4294967295)
   
  YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS cis.baseCISException. Base InstallException: 
  YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS Exception: Traceback (most recent call last):
       File "/usr/lib/vmuarc-vmafd/firstboot/umafd-firstboot.py", line 184, in main
  controller.firstboot()
  File "/usr/lib/unware-vmafd/firstboot/umafd-firstboot.py", line 55, in firstboot
  self.init()
  File "/usr/lib/umuarc-vmafd/firstboot/umafd-firstboot.py", linc 61, in init
         service.init()
  File "/usr/lib/umuare-vmafd/firstboot/identityinstall/umdir Install.py", line 406, in init
         self.setup_domain()
       File "/usr/lib/vmuare-vmafd/firstboot/identityinstall/vmdir Install.py", line 261, in setup_domain
         problemld = problem)
  cis.baseCISException. Base InstallException: {
  "detail": [
   
  "id": "install.vmafd.vmdir_vdcpromo_crror",
  "translatable": "Failed to run udcprono".
  "localized": "Failed to run vdcprono"
   
  "componentKcy": "umafd",
  "problemId": "install.umafd.undir_udcprono_error",
  "resolution": {
  "id": "install.vmafd.undir_udcpromo_error.resolution",
  "translatable": "Please scarch of these symptoms in the VMware Knowledge Base for any known issues and possible workarounds. If none can be found, please collect a support bundle and open a support request."
  "localized": "Please search of these symptoms in the VMware Knowledge Base for any known issues and possible workarounds. If none can be found, please collect a support bundle and open a support request."

Environment

vCenter 7.x

vCenter 8.x

Cause

The primary cause for the "Failed to run vdcpromo" error is often a DNS resolution failure that prevents the new vCenter Server from correctly setting up its identity management service. When the vCenter Server is configured with an FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name), it must be able to resolve its own FQDN

Resolution

Follow these steps to ensure network and DNS settings are correctly configured before attempting the installation again:

• Verify DNS Configuration (Prerequisites):

            Ensure the DNS server is configured correctly and is reachable from the machine where you are deploying the vCenter Server.

            Verify that the FQDN used for the vCenter Server has a corresponding Forward (A) and Reverse (PTR) DNS record created on the DNS server before beginning the installation.

• Check Firewall Ports:

            Make sure port 53 (DNS) is not blocked by any firewalls (physical or software) between the VCSA and the DNS server.

            Verify that other necessary ports, such as 389 (LDAP) and 636 (LDAPS), are open if the deployment involves joining an Active Directory domain or using an external identity source.

After addressing the DNS issues, re-attempt the Stage 2 of the vCenter Server installation.

Additional Information

System Requirements for the vCenter Appliance