Cloud Builder Error: “Internal Server Error – Ensure XLSX/JSON File is Valid” During Greenfield Deployment

Products

VMware SDDC Manager

Issue/Introduction

During the VCF deployment process in Cloud Builder, after filling in the required parameters in the deployment parameter sheet and uploading the file, users may encounter the following error:

Error:
Internal Server Error – Ensure the xlsx/json file is valid

Environment

VMware Cloud Builder
VMware SDDC

Cause

This typically occurs when the required parameters are incorrectly filled or when data is copied and pasted between cells, which can introduce hidden characters or formatting issues in the workbook.
Log entries indicate that the system fails to convert the XLSX file to a JSON configuration, resulting in the error message.

/var/log/vmware/vcf/bringup/vcf-bringup-debug.log
INFO [vcf_sos] [jsongeneratorservice.py::execute::86::MainThread] JsonGenerator template directory : /opt/vmware/sddc-support/cloud_admin_tools/JsonGenerator/template INFO [vcf_sos] [jsongeneratorservice.py::execute::87::MainThread] JsonGenerator log directory : /var/log/vmware/vcf/sddc-support/jsongenerator-2025-03-14-18-02-56-1359/sos.log INFO [vcf_sos] [jsongeneratorservice.py::execute::88::MainThread] JsonGenerator suppress confirmation for clean up : True INFO [vcf_sos] [jsongeneratorservice.py::execute::93::MainThread] Input excel filename: /tmp/vcf-ems-145d061f-ee12-4651-a62b-015dcd99328a.xlsx INFO [vcf_sos] [progressreporter.py::update_task_status::214::MainThread] Update JSONGENERATOR:Validating Config File with status : FAILED INFO [vcf_sos] [progressreporter.py::update_task_status::299::MainThread] Overall status for JSONGENERATOR : COMPLETED_WITH_FAILURE INFO [vcf_sos] [progressreporter.py::update_task_status::338::MainThread] Current Status: Task-Name: JSONGENERATOR, Entity-Name: Validating Config File, Task-Status: FAILED INFO [vcf_sos] [progressreporter.py::determine_progress::108::MainThread] All Tasks : {'JSONGENERATOR:Validating Config File': 'FAILED'} INFO [vcf_sos] [progressreporter.py::determine_progress::109::MainThread] Completed Tasks : [] INFO [vcf_sos] [progressreporter.py::determine_progress::111::MainThread] Failed Tasks : ['JSONGENERATOR', 'JSONGENERATOR:Validating Config File'] INFO [vcf_sos] [progressreporter.py::determine_progress::113::MainThread] Percent complete : 100

Resolution

Method 1:

Ensure No Extra Spaces in the Parameter Sheet
Please verify that there are no additional spaces in the parameter sheet, as this may cause issues during the conversion process.
Avoid Copy-Pasting Between Cells
Refrain from copying and pasting content between cells in the XLSX file. This can introduce hidden characters or formatting issues that might disrupt the conversion.

Method 2: Conversion Process

Step 1: Download and Upload the Parameter Sheet

Download the latest version of the parameter sheet from the support site.
Upload the parameter sheet to the Cloud Builder VM using SCP or WinSCP.

For example, using SCP:
scp my-vcf-deploy.xlsx cloud-builder:/tmp/

Step 2: Execute the Conversion Command

SSH to Cloud Builder
On the Cloud Builder, run the following command to convert the XLSX deployment parameter file into a JSON configuration file:
/opt/vmware/bringup/scripts/json-generator.sh /tmp/my-vcf-deploy.xlsx /tmp/my-vcf-deploy.json vcf-ems

This will create the corresponding JSON file (my-vcf-deploy.json) from the XLSX file.

Step 3: Retrieve the Generated JSON File

After the conversion is completed, download the generated JSON file back to your local system using SCP or WinSCP.

For example, using SCP:
scp cloud-builder:/tmp/my-vcf-deploy.json /local/path/

Step 4: Update the Parameter Sheet and Upload the JSON

Once the JSON file is downloaded, make necessary updates to the parameter sheet. Then, upload the updated JSON file back to the Cloud Builder VM.

Additional Information

The VCF Planning and Preparation workbook may be being used in error. It is the wrong document and it is too large.
https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/vmware-cis/vcf/vcf-5-2-and-earlier/5-2/planning-and-preparation-workbook-5-2.html

If it looks like this, it is the wrong document.

The deployment parameter workbook, downloaded from the Broadcom Support Portal, must be used.
https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/vmware-cis/vcf/vcf-5-2-and-earlier/5-2/deploy-the-management-domain-using-vmware-cloud-builder.html

Here is a sample of what it looks like in the Portal. Choose the appropriate deployment-parameter.xlsx depending on the environment.