Unable to select vCenter server when upgrading Aria Automation 8.18.1 to VCF Automation 9.0.0

Products

• VCF Operations

Issue/Introduction

• VMware Aria Automation was imported into VCF Operations as per documentation Import an Existing VMware Aria Automation Instance Into VCF Operations and Upgrade to VCF Automation 9.0 
• No vCenter is listed in the drop down box when selecting vCenter server when attempting to upgrade VMware Aria Automation 8.18.1 to VCF Automation 9.0 as per documentation Upgrade VMware Aria Automation to VCF Automation 9.0
• Deployment target for the component shows the vCenter listed and a refresh of the data collection completed successfully. To confirm Open VCF Operations UI, go to Fleet Management → Lifecycle → VCF Management → Settings → Deployment Targets → Click on "Refresh Data Collection" icon to perform a refresh of the collected vCenter data.

Environment

VCF Operations 9.0

VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle 8.18.0

VMware Aria automation 8.18.1

Cause

Inventory sync in VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle was not triggered prior to importing VMware Aria Automation environment to VCF Fleet Manager 9.0 as a result the VMware Aria Automation environment was imported with incorrect vCenter details where IP address was set for vCenter not the FQDN that was expected.

The VMware Aria Automation environment was vMotioned in the past between vCenter servers and still contained old/invalid metadata when migrated into Fleet management.

Resolution

Prior to applying the steps below take snapshot/backup of Fleet Management and VMware Aria Automation node and also Aria Suite Lifecycle node

1. Sign into VCF Operations UI  go to Fleet Management → Lifecycle → VCF Management → Components  →  Locate the VCF Automation component → Click on 3 vertical dots → Click Delete → Do not select the option to delete the VMware Aria Automation VM in vCenter
2. Import the VMware Aria Automation environment into VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle.  You can use the following documentation as a guide Import a VMware Aria Automation environment .
3. Ensure the VMware Aria Automation environment in VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle has the correct details and that the vCenter is added in VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle with FQDN not IP address
4. Trigger inventory sync for the VMware Aria Automation environment
5. Re-import the VMware Aria Automation into VCF Fleet Management, You an use the following as a guide Import an Existing VMware Aria Automation Instance Into VCF Operations and Upgrade to VCF Automation 9.0