Bare Metal Edge fails to install in VMware NSX 4.2.x due to expired root password

Products

• VMware NSX

Issue/Introduction

• When you deploy a new Bare Metal Edge in VMware NSX 4.2.x, the installation fails after approximately 10 minutes with error:

       'nsx-edge-node' returned non-zero exit status 100.
       "An error occurred. Press enter to start a shell"

• The installation process halts during the deployment of the nsx-edge-node Debian package.

• After entering the shell, /var/crash/ install file shows the error 

       Setting up nsx-edge-datapath
       root : unable to resolve host nsx: Temporary failure in name resolution 
       expired password for user root (password aged)

Environment

VMware NSX

Cause

The base Bare Metal Edge OS image includes a pre-configured local root user account. VMware NSX enforces a default password expiration policy of 90 days. If you attempt a new installation of a Bare Metal Edge image 90 days or more after its official build release date, the installation fails because the local root password has expired.

Active Bare Metal Edge deployments that are already successfully installed are not impacted by this issue. Upgrades to VMware NSX 4.2.x are also unaffected.

Resolution

Fixed in release 4.2.1.2 and higher. See  Broadcom Downloads for steps to download this release.

 

If you cannot upgrade your NSX Manager, you can deploy the Express patch version 4.2.1.2. This version runs alongside the maintenance release version of the NSX Manager, provided both components belong to the same maintenance release track to maintain compatibility. More info at Download Broadcom products and software.

For example, if you run NSX Manager version 4.2.0.x, you can safely deploy NSX Bare Metal Edge version 4.2.1.2.

Ensure both components remain within the same maintenance release track.