OVA deployment is failing with the error : "The checksum(s) from the provided manifest file do not match the content of file(s)"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

The OVA deployment fails with the error in the vCenter Server : 

 Failed to deploy OVF package. Cause: A specified parameter was not correct: The checksum(s) from the provided manifest file do not match the content of file(s): filename.ovf

 

Log file : /var/log/vmware/content-library/cls.log

Log snippet :

YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.###Z | DEBUG    | <task_id> | cls-simple-activity-15    | ImportSessionActivity          | Releasing transfer session urn:transfer:12595fa0890a73d98549ed584bae5a19
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.###Z | DEBUG    | <task_id> | cls-simple-activity-15    | SimpleActivityExecutor         | submitting activity ReleaseTransferSessionActivity (priority=NORMAL, phase=phaseBegin()
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.###Z | DEBUG    | <task_id> | vdcs-vapi-config--executor-944 | JsonApiProvider                | Sending request of size: 463
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.###Z | DEBUG    | <task_id> | vdcs-vapi-config--executor-944 | HttpClient                     | Value of uri is:http://localhost:16666/cls/
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.###Z | DEBUG    | <task_id> | cls-simple-activity-15    | ImportSessionActivity          | Completing import lease ManagedObjectReference: type = HttpNfcLease, value = session[########-####-####-####-############]#######-####-####-####-############, serverGuid = ########-####-####-####-############ (exception: (vim.fault.OvfImportFailed) {
   faultCause = (vmodl.fault.InvalidArgument) {
      faultCause = null,
      faultMessage = (vmodl.LocalizableMessage) [
         (vmodl.LocalizableMessage) {
            dynamicType = null,
            dynamicProperty = null,
            key = com.vmware.ovfs.ovfs-main.ovfs.invalid_manifest_checksum_mismatch,
            arg = (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) [
               (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) {
                  dynamicType = null,
                  dynamicProperty = null,
                  key = 0,
                  value = filename.vmdk
               }
            ],
            message = The checksum(s) from the provided manifest file do not match the content of file(s): filename.vmdk.
         }
      ],
      invalidProperty = null
   },
   faultMessage = null
})

Environment

• VMware vCenter Server 7.x
• VMware vCenter Server 8.x

Cause

vCenter Server validates the integrity of an OVA file by comparing the checksum of the downloaded file with the checksum published by the software vendor. This verification ensures the OVA file hasn't been corrupted or tampered with during download. The checksum is typically a hash value, like MD5 or SHA256, that acts as a digital fingerprint of the file. 

The expected checksum calculated by the vCenter Server and the checksum present in the manifest file do not match, hence, the issue occurred and the OVA deployment failed.

Resolution

Workaround : Follow one of the following workarounds.

• Workaround 1 :
  • Extract the OVA file and use the .ovf and .vmdk files to deploy the OVA.
    
    
• Workaround 2 :
  • Steps to Calculate Checksums with 7-Zip:
    
    • Right-click: the file to calculate the checksum.
    • Hover over the "CRC SHA" option in the context menu.
    • Select the desired checksum algorithm (e.g., SHA-256) from the list.
    • 7-Zip will display the calculated checksum. 
  • Edit the manifest file and input the calculated checksum in the file.
  • Save the file.
  • Deploy the OVA.

Additional Information

Link to download the 7-Zip software : Download 7-Zip

Steps to deploy VM using OVA : Deploy a Virtual Machine from an OVF or OVA File in the VMware Host Client