Configure VCHA failed with error A general system error occurred: 1. Logs available at /var/log/vmware/vcha

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

1. When configuring VCHA via vSphere-UI, failed with below error.

A general system error occurred: 1. Logs available at /var/log/vmware/vcha

2. From /var/log/vmware/vcha/prepare-vcha.log file, you can find below log entry.

Failed to open config file: /usr/lib/vmware-vmca/share/config/certool.cfg

[DATE/TIME] INFO prepare-vcha Successfully set interface eth0 to manual mode.
[DATE/TIME] INFO prepare-vcha Generating CSR...
[DATE/TIME] ERROR prepare-vcha Failed generation of certificate for vPostgres: rc = [115], stdout = [Failed to open config file: /usr/lib/vmware-vmca/share/config/certool.cfg
Exiting ...Status : Failed
Error Code : 70003
Error Message : Invalid arguments found
], stderr = []
[DATE/TIME] INFO prepare-vcha Cleaning DB certs path: /storage/db/vpostgres_ssl ...

 

3. The file is missing on vCenter appliance side.

/usr/lib/vmware-vmca/share/config/certool.cfg

Environment

vCenter 8.0U3

Cause

/usr/lib/vmware-vmca/share/config/certool.cfg file is missing.

About missing this file, you can also check this KB.

https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/322059/certificatemanager-fails-immediately-aft.html

Resolution

Create symbolic link manually to resolve this issue.

ln -s /var/lib/vmware/vmca_config/certool.cfg /usr/lib/vmware-vmca/share/config/certool.cfg

Additional Information

You probably cannot remove vcha after hitting this issue through vsphere ui.

Then you can check vpxd log with this KB 

https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/393136/remove-vcenterha-option-fails-with-gener.html