Unable to deploy OVF package

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• When attempting to deploy an OVF from vCenter, the following vCenter UI error appears:
  
  

Cause: A general system error occurred: Provider method implementation threw unexpected exception: com.vmware.vapi.std.errors.Unauthenticated: Unauthenticated (com.vmware.vapistd.errors.unauthenticated) => { messages = [LocalizableMessage
(com.vmware.vapi.std localizable_message) => { id > vapi.security,authentication.invalid, defaultMessage = Unable to authenticate user, 
args = [],
params = , 
localized =
}}, 
data = , 
error Type =UNAUTHENTICATED, 
challenge = 
]

 

• In vCenter - /var/log/vmware/content-library/cls.log
  
  

2025-12-16T10:18:56.954+08:00 | DEBUG    | mj0wkq0o-16070-auto-cek-h5:70002161-1d | cls-simple-activity-12    | VdcsFutureResultCallback       | setting the future with value Info (com.vmware.vcenter.ovf.import_session.info) => {
    state = IMPORT_ERROR,
    progress = 0,
    fileTransferMode = <null>,
    files = [],
    errors = [OvfError (com.vmware.vcenter.ovf.ovf_error) => {
    category = SERVER,
    issues = <null>,
    name = <null>,
    value = <null>,
    message = <null>,
    error = InternalServerError (com.vmware.vapi.std.errors.internal_server_error) => {
        messages = [LocalizableMessage (com.vmware.vapi.std.localizable_message) => {
    id = vapi.bindings.method.impl.unexpected,
    defaultMessage = Provider method implementation threw unexpected exception: com.vmware.vapi.std.errors.Unauthenticated: Unauthenticated (com.vmware.vapi.std.errors.unauthenticated) => {
    messages = [LocalizableMessage (com.vmware.vapi.std.localizable_message) => {
    id = vapi.security.authentication.invalid,
    defaultMessage = Unable to authenticate user,
    args = [],
    params = <null>,
    localized = <null>
}],
    data = <null>,
    errorType = UNAUTHENTICATED,
    challenge = <null>
},
    args = [com.vmware.vapi.std.errors.Unauthenticated: Unauthenticated (com.vmware.vapi.std.errors.unauthenticated) => {
    messages = [LocalizableMessage (com.vmware.vapi.std.localizable_message) => {
    id = vapi.security.authentication.invalid,
    defaultMessage = Unable to authenticate user,
    args = [],
    params = <null>,
    localized = <null>
}],
    data = <null>,
    errorType = UNAUTHENTICATED,
    challenge = <null>
}],
    params = <null>,
    localized = <null>
}],
        data = <null>,
        errorType = INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
    }
}],

• /var/log/vmware/applmgmt/applmgmt.log
  
  

2025-12-16T10:13:08 AM +08 [8568]ERROR:vmware.appliance.vapi.auth:Requested SSO authentication but SSO authentication module is not available.
2025-12-16T10:16:08 AM +08 [8568]DEBUG:vmware.appliance.update.update_state:In State._get using state file /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf
2025-12-16T10:16:08 AM +08 [8568]ERROR:vmware.appliance.vapi.auth:Requested SSO authentication but SSO authentication module is not available.
2025-12-16T10:16:08 AM +08 [8568]ERROR:vmware.appliance.vapi.auth:Requested SSO authentication but SSO authentication module is not available.

Environment

vSphere 8.x

Cause

From the above log experts, it was observed that the file "/usr/lib/applmgmt/lib/extensions/py/vmware/appliance/extensions/authentication/authentication_sso.py" is corrupted. 

Resolution

Workaround: 

The issue can be worked around by using content library to import OVF package. 

To further review this issue, please gather the vCenter support bundle and contact Broadcom Support following Creating and managing Broadcom support request (SR) cases