VCP6-CMA Section 7: Monitor and Troubleshoot a vRealize Automation Implementation

Contents

Objective 7.1: Perform Basic vRealize Automation Troubleshooting

Troubleshoot login issues

  • Start by checking that all service are started on the vRA appliance
  • Check the status of the SSO service under the SSO tab
  • Check the Identity appliance logs
    • /var/log/vmware/sso
  • Check the vRealize Automation appliance logs
    • /var/logs/vmware/vcac/catalina.out
  • Reboot the identity appliance
    • VAMI > System > Reboot
  • Reboot the vRA appliance
    • VAMI > System > Reboot

Troubleshoot installation and upgrade issues

Installers fail to download

  • Check network connectivity between the IaaS server and the vRA appliance

Failed to install Model Manager Data and Web Components

  • You get the error “The IaaS installer failed to save the Model Manager Data and Web compoenents”
  • Check the following
    • Connectivity
    • Trusted Certificate Issues
      • Check that the cert used during the installation has been added to the Trusted Root Certificate Store on the machine
      • Check that there are no certificate errors when visiting https://iaas-web/repository/data/MetaModel.svc
      • Certificate name mismatch
        • Can be avoided by selecting Suppress Certificate Mismatch during installation
        • Can also be used to ignore remote certificate revocation match errors
        • Invalid Certificate
          • Check that the certificate has not expired and the chain is correct
    • Repository Service
      • Check that status of https://iaas-web/repository/data/MetaModel.svc
      • Check the repository.log for errors
      • Perform an IIS reset if you have issues with the applications hosted by the website
        • Repository, vRealize Automation, WAPI
      • Check the IIS logs for errors
        • C:\inetpub\logs\LogFiles
      • Verify prerequisites have all be satisfied
      • On Server 2012 check that WCF services and HTTP activation are installed
    • Disabled loopback check
      • BackConnectionHostName registry entry

Save settings warning during IaaS installation

  • Check connectivity
  • Should not cause the setup to fail

WAPI and DEMs fail to install

  • Can occur because the IaaS service account password uses a double quotation mark character

IaaS authentication fails during IaaS Web and Model Management Installation

  • Authentication is not enabled, but the IIS authentication check box is selected
    • In IIS clear the Windows Authentication check box and click save
    • Re select the check box and click save
    • Re run the prerequisite checker

Installation or upgrade fails with a load balancer timeout error

  • Failes with a 503 service unavailable error
  • Occurs because the load balancer timeout setting does not allow enough time for the task to complete
  • Solved by increasing the load balancer timeout value to at least 100 seconds

Identify log file locations

  • Installation logs
    • Installation Logs: C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\vCAC\InstallLogs
    • Installation Logs: C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\vCAC\Server\ConfigTool\Log
    • WAPI Installation Logs: C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\vCAC\Web API\ConfigTool\LogFilename WAPIConfiguration-<xxx>
  • IaaS logs
    • Website Logs: C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\vCAC\Server\Website\Logs
    • Repository Logs: C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\vCAC\Server\Model manager Web\Logs
    • Manager Service Logs: C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\vCAC\Server\Logs
    • Orchestrator Logs: C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\vCAC\Distributed Execution Manager\DEO\Logs
    • Agent Logs: C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\vCAC\Agents\<agent_name>\logs
  • Identity Appliance logs
    • /var/log/vmware/sso
    • catalina.out
  • vRealize Automation Framework logs
    • /var/log/vmware/vcac/
    • catalina.out

Objective 7.2: Audit vRealize Automation Resources and Events

Provide status details of managed virtual machines

  • Log in as a Fabric Administrator
    • Select Infrastructure > Machines > Managed Machines
    • You will now see a list of managed machines
    • The table view provides the following information
      • Name, Status, Platform type, Owner, Blueprint, Group, Reservation
    • You can also click a machine name to get more detailed information
      • Storage, Network, Custom Properties used & snapshot management

Determine status and history of workflows

  • Log in as an IaaS Administrator
    • Select Infrastructure > Monitoring > Workflow History

Identify event attributes

Show display status

Objective 7.3: Map vRealize Automation Resources to vSphere Resources

Create resource mappings

  • Log in as a Service Architect
  • Select Advanced Services > Resource Mappings
    • Click Add
    • Enter a name, description and version
    • Enter the type of catalog resource in the Catalog Resource Type text box and press enter
    • Enter the vRO object type in the Orchestrator Type text box and press enter
    • If required, add target criteria to restrict the availability of resource actions created by using this resource mapping
      • Resource actions are also subject to restrictions based on approvals and entitlements
      • Select the type of condition
        • All of the following
        • Any of the following
        • Not the following
      • Follow the prompts to build your clauses and complete the condition
    • Select the type of resource mapping to be used
    • Select your resource mapping action or workflow from the vRO library
    • Click Add
  • There are also some OOTB resource mappings that can be used
    • vSphere virtual machines
    • vCloud Director virtual machines
    • vCloud Director vApps

Create and publish a resource action

  • To create an action log in as a Service Architect
    • Select Advanced Service Designer > Resource Actions
    • Select Add
    • Select a vRO workflow to associate with the action from the tree
    • Click next
    • Map the resource type and input parameter
    • Click next
    • Enter the workflow details
      • Name, description & version
      • If required, select hide catalog requires information page
      • Select the type of resource action
        • Provisioning
        • Disposal
      • Choose the target criteria
        • Always available – The resource action is always available, providing that there is an appropriate entitlement
        • Available based on conditions – The resource action is only available when certain conditions are met
      • Click next
    • If required, edit the actions form
    • Click Add
  • Publish the resource action
    • Select Advanced Services > Resource Actions
    • Select a resource action and click publish

Associate icons to actions

  • Log in as a Service Architect
    • Select Administration > Catalog Management > Actions
    • Select a resource action
    • Click configure
    • Click browse and chose an icon
    • Click open
    • Click Update