ERROR: "secrets 'tmc-access-secret' already exists" when attaching cluster to Tanzu Platform

Products

• Tanzu Kubernetes Runtime
• VMware Tanzu Platform
• Vmware Tanzu Platform - SM

Issue/Introduction

When attempting to attach a cluster to Tanzu Platform for Kubernetes using the registration URL, users might see errors indicating that the vmware-system-tmc namespace already exists. Errors will look like:

 

Error from server (AlreadyExists): error when creating "https://white.stacks.whitesand.tmc.tanzu.broadcom.com/installer?id-<UNIQUE_ID>&source-attach": namespace "vmware-system-tmc" already exists

Error from server (AlreadyExists): error when creating "https://white.stacks.whitesand.tmc.tanzu.broadcom.com/installer?id-<UNIQUE_ID>&source-attach": configmap 'stack-config' already exists

Error from server (AlreadyExists): error when creating "https://white.stacks.whitesand.tmc.tanzu.broadcom.com/installer?id-<UNIQUE_ID>&source-attach": secrets 'tmc-access-secret' already exists

Cause

This problem occurs because the cluster on which the attach is being attempted is already attached to TMC. TMC and Tanzu Platform cannot be installed on the same cluster at this time.

Resolution

Detach the existing cluster from TMC prior to attaching to Tanzu Platform, OR, create a new cluster from the Supervisor or Management cluster directly and attach it to Tanzu Platform after creation.