VMware Cloud Community
akutz
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

Unable to decrypt passwords in customization spec

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!

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38 Replies
VirtThis
Contributor
Contributor

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.

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kucharski
Commander
Commander

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

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akutz
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

I have not received any answer on this, sorry. I am going to go ahead and open a ticket.

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VirtThis
Contributor
Contributor

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

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kucharski
Commander
Commander

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:

false</plaintext></body>

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

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JE2
Contributor
Contributor

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.

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RobMokkink
Expert
Expert

After installing the lastest patch i still have this error on some customer sites??

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RobMokkink
Expert
Expert

I didn't update my post.

The workaround i use is to export the customization template:

where you can change Password01 to your needs.

This error comes up random. On some sites it works oke and some it don't.

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Dennis2
Contributor
Contributor

And how do you go about doing an export/import?

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Jwoods
Expert
Expert

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.

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jasonboche
Immortal
Immortal

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

VCDX3 #34, VCDX4, VCDX5, VCAP4-DCA #14, VCAP4-DCD #35, VCAP5-DCD, VCPx4, vEXPERTx4, MCSEx3, MCSAx2, MCP, CCAx2, A+
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jasonboche
Immortal
Immortal

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.






[i]Jason Boche[/i]

[VMware Communities User Moderator|http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-2444][/i]

VCDX3 #34, VCDX4, VCDX5, VCAP4-DCA #14, VCAP4-DCD #35, VCAP5-DCD, VCPx4, vEXPERTx4, MCSEx3, MCSAx2, MCP, CCAx2, A+
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creiche
Contributor
Contributor

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

Thanks,

Chris

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Daniyalis
Contributor
Contributor

I had the same issue but after reseting the password in the particular Customization Specification , I was able to deploy a new vm. As 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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creiche
Contributor
Contributor

I have tried updating the password in the customization spec and deleting and recreating. I am using Self-Signed SSL certificates. I still get the same error.

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jerrybeale
Contributor
Contributor

I edited the customized spec and re-entered the admin password and also the account password for adding to the domain. After this the provisioning worked Ok

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JoJoGabor
Expert
Expert

I jsut started getting this error after updating the default VC certificate last night to use one produced by our CA.

ONe workaround would be to sysprep the image manually, power off and then convert to a template. Then the password is stored in the sysprep.inf file on the image. Just make sure the runonce command deleted the sysprep.inf file to delete the trace.

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scerazy
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Is there any permanent solution to this error:

virtualcenter server is unable to decrypt passwords stored in the customization specification

Or I did not notice it here?

Manual change password in the cust xml file to plain text works, but it is a bodge IMHO

Thanks

Seb

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jpratt_at_norwi
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I have an open SR with vmware about it now - (Update 2)

I'll let you know. i'm sick of this .

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