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35 Replies Last post: Jun 8, 2009 7:30 AM by scerazy
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Unable to decrypt passwords in customization spec

Sep 12, 2006 1:48 PM

Click to view akutz's profile Hot Shot akutz 313 posts since
Nov 9, 2005
The exact error I get when I attempt to deploy a template is "The virtualcenter server is unable to decrypt passwords stored in the customization specification."

I have found previous mention that when you uninstall VC and then reinstall it you can no longer use old customization specifications. I have done this, but I have since DELETED all old specs.

I cannot even deploy a template with brand new customization settings (although I am assuming it saves those settings to a temp file for sysprep to use). Have I fubarred myself completely by previously uninstalling VC server?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
Reply Re: Unable to decrypt passwords in customization spec Sep 13, 2006 4:54 PM
Click to view ddkjr1814's profile Novice ddkjr1814 15 posts since
Jun 1, 2006
I am having the same issue. I have been in contact with some people today.

I will post back here when I get an answer.
Reply Re: Unable to decrypt passwords in customization spec Sep 27, 2006 2:32 AM
Click to view kucharski's profile Master kucharski 977 posts since
Sep 13, 2004
Did you never find an answer for your problem here. I am actually having the same problem at a client site of mine and any feedback would help me in this matter.

Thanks,

Michael
Reply Re: Unable to decrypt passwords in customization spec Sep 27, 2006 4:04 AM
Click to view akutz's profile Hot Shot akutz 313 posts since
Nov 9, 2005
I have not received any answer on this, sorry. I am going to go ahead and open a ticket.
Reply Re: Unable to decrypt passwords in customization spec Sep 27, 2006 7:59 AM
Click to view ddkjr1814's profile Novice ddkjr1814 15 posts since
Jun 1, 2006
From what I hear this is a know issue and they are working on it.

As of right now I have heard of no fix to the issue.

D
Reply Re: Unable to decrypt passwords in customization spec Oct 4, 2006 5:23 AM
Click to view kucharski's profile Master kucharski 977 posts since
Sep 13, 2004
I opened a support call for the client where I am working at about this problem. VMware couldn't understand why I am having this problem until today. They had to export the customization template, which exports to an XML file. Then they had me edit line 719 which read this: <plainText>false</plainText> They had me switch the false to true and then re-import the xml file back into VirtualCenter. About 15 minutes later I was able to deploy a template into a virtual machine. They also told me that they are continuing to research the problem for more a clearly picture in why this is happenning. I also told them that also when I choose the second option during the deployment of the template virtual machine that I get the same result error with the decrypt passwords. The engineer said that he hopes to get back to me by the end of the week. With keep you posted. But give the replacement of the false to true a shot and hopefully it will fix your problem too.

Michael
Reply Re: Unable to decrypt passwords in customization spec Feb 19, 2007 1:23 PM
Click to view JE@DCS's profile Lurker JE@DCS 1 posts since
Jan 19, 2007
In my case, this issue was caused by a SQL problem.

One of the sample databases (tempdb on SQL2005) grew to all the available space on OS volume (the default installed databases were installed on C). This caused SQL to partially stop functioning.

After shrinking the tempdb database and rebooting, template deployment started working again. After that, I moved tempdb to a larger volume and set up a maintenance plan to make sure it doesn't happen again. If you get this error, you might verify that everything is ok with the database that your VC uses.
Reply Re: Unable to decrypt passwords in customization spec May 18, 2007 8:15 AM
in response to: JE@DCS
Click to view RobMokkink's profile Expert RobMokkink 617 posts since
Jun 7, 2005
After installing the lastest patch i still have this error on some customer sites??
Reply Re: Unable to decrypt passwords in customization spec May 18, 2007 9:21 AM
in response to: RobMokkink
Click to view RobMokkink's profile Expert RobMokkink 617 posts since
Jun 7, 2005
I didn't update my post.

The workaround i use is to export the customization template:

<password>
<_type>vim.vm.customization.Password</_type>
<plainText>true</plainText>
<value>Password01</value>
</password>

Change the value <plainText>false</plainText> to <plainText>true</plainText>

And <value>slkjsdjflskdf0-000034</value> to <value>Password01</value> where you can change Password01 to your needs.

This error comes up random. On some sites it works oke and some it don't.
Reply Re: Unable to decrypt passwords in customization spec Feb 6, 2008 1:16 AM
in response to: RobMokkink
Click to view Dennis@wmdata's profile Enthusiast Dennis@wmdata 42 posts since
Jan 14, 2008
And how do you go about doing an export/import?
Reply Re: Unable to decrypt passwords in customization spec Feb 19, 2008 12:00 PM
in response to: Dennis@wmdata
Click to view Jwoods's profile Expert Jwoods 574 posts since
Jul 14, 2005
Dennis@wmdata wrote:
And how do you go about doing an export/import?
Go to Edit | Customization Specifications
Right-click the template desired and select export.
Save-As whatever you want.

To Import, click the Import button at the top of the Customization Spec. Mgr.
Reply Re: Unable to decrypt passwords in customization spec Mar 1, 2008 9:46 AM
in response to: Jwoods
Click to view jasonboche's profile Champion jasonboche 5,846 posts since
Jan 7, 2004 Moderator
I ran into this issue with saved customizations and templates also.

I tried a few things including:
1. Delete the customization having the issue
2. Recreated the customization from scratch (did not resolve the problem)
3. Delete the customization again
4. Deploy the template using the customization wizard only (not using a stored customization). The issue still happened.
5. Create another customization
6. Follow the export/import procedure. Resolved the problem.

This will need to be resolved. Saving Windows infrastructure passwords via the export/import procedure in clear text isn't good.


Jason Boche
VMware Communities User Moderator

Reply Re: Unable to decrypt passwords in customization spec Apr 11, 2008 6:27 PM
in response to: jasonboche
Click to view jasonboche's profile Champion jasonboche 5,846 posts since
Jan 7, 2004 Moderator
This appears to be permanently broken in VirtualCenter 2.5 Update 1. None of the methods above allows me to deploy a template with a stored customization. I even tried to deploy a template creating a new customization on the fly, and that does not work either. At this point I cannot deploy a template with any customization. This one is bad news.






Jason Boche
VMware Communities User Moderator

Reply Re: Unable to decrypt passwords in customization spec Jun 26, 2008 1:12 PM
in response to: jasonboche
Click to view creiche's profile Novice creiche 7 posts since
Mar 27, 2008

Is there any update to this issue? We can not store passwords plain text and really would like to use customization specifications.

Thanks,

Chris

Reply Re: Unable to decrypt passwords in customization spec Jun 26, 2008 1:15 PM
in response to: creiche
Click to view Daniyalis's profile Novice Daniyalis 11 posts since
Jun 26, 2008
I had the same issue but after reseting the password in the particular Customization Specification , I was able to deploy a new vm. As jasonboche you can also try to recreate it. But for me it worked by just giving again the password . Please try and upda this discussion.
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