VM inventory isn't loading on NSX Manager UI

Products

• VMware NSX-T Data Center
• VMware NSX

Issue/Introduction

• The VMs that are on a host or set of host do not show up on the NSX manager inventory.
• Host transport nodes are connected without any issues and shows as Up and no errors are reported.
• On ESXi hostd.log logs you see error logs as below.
  

  2021-12-16T01:17:10.152Z info hostd[2108754] [Originator@6876 sub=Vimsvc.TaskManager opID=eea03376 user=vpxuser] Task Completed : haTask-ha-folder-root-vim.host.LocalAccountManager.updateUser-2191108759 Status error
  2021-12-16T01:17:10.153Z info hostd[2108754] [Originator@6876 sub=Solo.Vmomi opID=eea03376 user=vpxuser] Activation [N5Vmomi10ActivationE:0x0000000c66247a00] : Invoke done [updateUser] on [vim.host.LocalAccountManager:ha-localacctmgr]
  2021-12-16T01:17:10.153Z verbose hostd[2108754] [Originator@6876 sub=Solo.Vmomi opID=eea03376 user=vpxuser] Arg user:
  --> (vim.host.LocalAccountManager.PosixAccountSpecification) {
  -->    id = "vxpsvc_ptagent_op",
  -->    password = (not shown),
  --> }
  2021-12-16T01:17:10.153Z info hostd[2108754] [Originator@6876 sub=Solo.Vmomi opID=eea03376 user=vpxuser] Throw vmodl.fault.SystemError
  2021-12-16T01:17:10.153Z info hostd[2108754] [Originator@6876 sub=Solo.Vmomi opID=eea03376 user=vpxuser] Result:
  --> (vmodl.fault.SystemError) {
  -->    reason = "pam_passwdqc: Error parsing parameter "retry=3,": Invalid parameter value. *** passwd: Critical error - immediate abort",
  -->    msg = "",
  --> }
  ...

Cause

passwdqc is complaining about invalid format with "retry=3," and this is because an invalid comma is added to the ESXi advanced option Security.PasswordQualityControl

 

Resolution

The issue is resolved in NSX 3.1.3.6 or later releases. 

The workaround is to edit the advanced option again and remove the extra ',':

From:
'retry=3, min=disabled,disabled,disabled,7,7'

to:
'retry=3 min=disabled,disabled,disabled,7,7'