"The remote library is not reachable" error when configuring Subscribed Content Library on vCenter 9.0 using Proxy and External URLs

Products

• VMware vSphere Kubernetes Service
• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• The proxy is configured correctly in vCenter appliance management interface (VAMI) for both HTTP and HTTPS
• Access to the remote subscription URL is enabled exclusively through the proxy. However, when configuring a subscribed content library with an external URL that requires a proxy (e.g., wp-content.broadcom.com), the following error occurs: 'The remote library is not reachable'

• On the vCenter, messages similar to the following might be seen in /var/log/vmware/content-library/cls.log

[timestamp] | DEBUG    | meh4xitd-392-auto-ax-h5:700##146 | proxy-vapi-config--executor-53 | JsonApiProvider                | Sending request of size: 381
[timestamp] | DEBUG    | meh4xitd-392-auto-ax-h5:700##146 | proxy-vapi-config--executor-53 | HttpClient                     | Value of uri is:http://localhost:/site/api
[timestamp] | ERROR    | meh4xitd-392-auto-ax-h5:700##146 | tomcat-http-30            | CachedProxyService             | failed to get
[timestamp] | DEBUG    | meh4xitd-392-auto-ax-h5:700##146 | tomcat-http-30            | ApplianceProxySettings         | Proxy is not enabled / config is null
[timestamp] | DEBUG    | meh4xitd-392-auto-ax-h5:700##146 | proxy-vapi-config--executor-54 | JsonApiProvider 

Environment

VMware vCenter 9.0

Cause

A race condition is triggered because the proxy API result is fetched before the callback is received. This results in an exception, causing the content library to fail to recognize the configured proxy and noProxy details.

Resolution

This is a known issue in the content library; the fix is available in the 9.0.1 patch of vCenter. 

To work around this issue, use the guide below to download content from a remote URL locally and import it to a local library for TKG image cluster provisioning: Create a Local Content Library (for Air-Gapped Cluster Provisioning)