Troubleshooting vRA and vRB Installation Issues: A Real Easy Resolution
As a seasoned IT professional, I recently encountered some installation issues with vRealize Automation (vRA) and vRealize Business (vRB) that left me scratching my head. In this article, I will share the error messages I faced and the easy resolution that saved me a significant amount of time.
Error Messages and Confusion
When logging onto any tenant, I was presented with a “submit” button and an error code with no other options. If I was able to get past this error, clicking on the infrastructure tab resulted in a “Error 401 User not authorized” message. The status of the vRA connectivity displayed the error “null:java.lang.IllegalStateException: Expected BEGIN_OBJECT but was STRING;”
These error messages were not very helpful, and I found myself struggling to understand the root cause of the issue. However, with some persistence and troubleshooting, I discovered that the problem was related to time drift. One of the hosts’ times was not syncing correctly due to a firewall change, resulting in a drift of around 65 seconds.
The Solution: Time Correction
By correcting the time and rebooting the appliances, all began to work like it should. The solution was surprisingly simple, and I was relieved that it wasn’t something more complex. As someone who has worked with vRA and vRB before, I found it frustrating that the error messages didn’t provide any clear indication of the issue.
However, this experience taught me a valuable lesson about the importance of time synchronization in vRA and vRB installations. It also reminded me that sometimes the simplest solutions can be overlooked when troubleshooting complex issues.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you encounter similar errors during your vRA or vRB installation, take a closer look at the time synchronization on your appliances. A simple time correction may be all it takes to resolve the issue. As I mentioned earlier, this solution saved me a significant amount of time and frustration, and I hope it does the same for you.
Remember, vRA and vRB are powerful tools that can simplify virtualization management, but they can also be sensitive to timing issues. Keep this in mind when troubleshooting any installation or connectivity issues, and don’t hesitate to reach out to the community for help if needed.