Unable to Edit Files in VCFA Using Command-Line Editor

Products

• VCF Automation

Issue/Introduction

Users may observe that file modifications cannot be performed using command-line editors like VIM

This issue can impact administrative tasks, configuration updates, and troubleshooting activities performed on the appliance.

Environment

VCF Automation 9.0

Cause

In version 9.0, the VI Editor option is not available by default. The required packages are not pre-installed as part of the out-of-the-box deployment and therefore are not available for use unless manually installed.

Resolution

In version 9.0, the VI editor (vim) is not installed by default. To enable VI/VIM functionality, the required packages must be installed manually. This can be done using one of the following methods, depending on whether the appliance has internet access.

Option 1: Install VI Editor Using Online Repository (Internet Access Required)

1. Log in to the affected appliance using SSH with appropriate administrative privileges.

2. Verify that the system has outbound internet access.

3. Run the following command to install the VI editor package:
   
   yum install vim

4. When prompted, confirm the installation.

5. Once the installation completes, verify by running:
   
   vim --version

6. The VI editor should now be available for use.

 

Option 2: Install VI Editor Manually (Offline Installation)  

If the appliance does not have internet access, the VI editor can be installed manually by downloading the required RPM packages and transferring them to the appliance.

Step 1: Download Required Packages

1. From a system with internet access, download the following RPM files from the VMware Photon repository:

   • vim-9.1.1473-3.ph5.x86_64.rpm

   • vim-extra-9.1.1473-3.ph5.x86_64.rpm

   Repository location here 

Step 2: Transfer Packages to the Appliance

1. Use a secure file transfer tool such as WinSCP.

2. Copy both RPM files to a directory on the appliance (for example: /tmp).

Step 3: Install the Packages

1. SSH into the appliance.

2. Navigate to the directory where the RPM files were copied:
   
   cd /tmp

3. Install the packages using the following command:
   
   rpm -ivh vim-9.1.1473-3.ph5.x86_64.rpm vim-extra-9.1.1473-3.ph5.x86_64.rpm

   (Alternatively, yum localinstall can be used if preferred.)

4. Verify the installation:
   
   vim --version

After completing either method, the VI editor will be available on the appliance and can be used for file editing and troubleshooting tasks.