Workload Domain import stuck in ACTIVATING status due to vcf_brownfield.py failure in VMware Cloud Foundation

Products

• VCF Operations
• VMware SDDC Manager / VCF Installer

Issue/Introduction

A VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) Workload Domain import task fails to complete.

• The Configuration Status in the SDDC Manager UI remains stuck in an ACTIVATING state.
• The SDDC Manager UI displays the following error message detailing an internal script failure:
  
  Import operation for import with <UUID> failed internally. Command was python3 /opt/vmware/vcf/domainmanager/scripts/vcf-import-tool/vcf_brownfield.py import --skip-ssh-thumbprint-validation --sso-user administrator@<REDACTED_HOSTNAME> --vcenter <REDACTED_HOSTNAME> --internal-vcf-auth --nsx-deployment-spec-path /tmp/nsxDeploymentSpec.json

Environment

VCF 9.0

Cause

• This issue occurs when the vcf_brownfield.py import script encounters a transient environmental failure (such as a temporary SSH timeout, vCenter API unresponsiveness, or network hiccup) during its original execution.
• The script fails internally, but the SDDC Manager state machine does not cleanly register the exception, leaving the UI visual status hung at `ACTIVATING`.

Resolution

Because the underlying environmental failure was transient and the UI state is merely hung, restarting the task forces the domain manager to re-evaluate the environment and resume the import workflow.

1. Log in to the SDDC Manager UI.
2. Navigate to the tasks pane or the specific Workload Domain displaying the hung `ACTIVATING` status.
3. Click the RESTART TASK button.
4. Monitor the task progress.
5. The task should bypass the previous transient failure and successfully transition the Configuration State to `ACTIVE`.

Note:

• If the task fails again after restarting, the issue is not transient.
• However, the restart will have successfully generated a fresh set of log bundles.
• Collect the logs from /var/log/vmware/vcf/domainmanager/brownfield/<UUID>/ on the SDDC Manager appliance for further investigation and Contact Broadcom Technical Support