Unable to create any new device / group MCS profiles: Template disabled

Products

• DX Unified Infrastructure Management (Nimsoft / UIM)

Issue/Introduction

When adding a new profile in MCS all templates are showing as “Template Disabled”.

This behaviour is repeated across all existing MCS device / groups when trying to add a new profile.

What is causing this? 

Environment

DX UIM 23.4.*

Cause

The "template not available" can occur when the value "pkg_available" in the SSRV2Template table in the DX UIM backend DB is equal to "0". 

When  "pkg_available = 0" the MCS assumes the dependent package is not available in archive, hence it prevents to create a Profile for it, as it might fail. 

In MCS 23.4.* and later a MCS task exists that is managed by a key "check_package_availability". When this key is set to "true" it scans the automated_deployment_engine probe (ADE) for Package Availability at defined intervals. This mechanism is designed to avoid profiles to get stuck because of package availability inconsistencies.

If the key is set to "false", it may cause  "pkg_available" filed in SSRV2Template table to be set to 0. 

Resolution

• Ensure "check_package_availability" is set to "true" in the mon_config_service (MCS) configuration.
  
  
  • Steps to edit the key: 
    • Open MCS raw configure
    • in the timed section set check_package_availability = true
      
      
      
• In large environments, with a high number of templates and custom packages in the archive, this mechanism may cause an excessive consumption of number of ports by the ADE probe as documented here: Primary Hub goes down - MCS log: Failed to load archive list to check package availability
  
  If this happens it is suggested to edit the default interval with which the check_package_availability activity.
  • • Steps to edit the interval of check_package_availability:
      • • Open MCS raw configure
        • in the timed section edit check_package_availability_interval from "60" (value in seconds and 60 is the default) to a higher value (Eg.  "1800" - 30 minutes)
          
          

Additional Information

Related KB: Primary Hub goes down - MCS log: Failed to load archive list to check package availability

in some scenarios, the presence of vs2008 packages may be needed in the archive for some template to be available.