vCenter login: An error occurred when processing the metadata during vCenter Single Sign-On setup

Question

Recently, I took over management of some servers, and I can no longer connect to our vCenter to manage our VMs. We don't have SSO and as far as I know, we only have one account "admin".

When I go on the web using server name, I get error as below:

A server error occurred. [400] An error occurred while sending an authentication request to the vCenter Single Sign-On server - An error occurred when processing the metadata during vCenter Single Sign-On setup - null.

Check the vSphere Web Client server logs for details"

When use IP of the sever, I get following error:

[400] An error occurred while sending a logout request to the vCenter Single Sign-On server - An error occurred when processing the metadata during vCenter Single Sign-On setup - null. Back to login screen

I see a 90 policy enforced, however nothing I do seems to resolve the issue.

Solutions i have tried so far and did not help: restarting the server, reset password, I have check the logs and nothing to be found of recent. last logs were from 2019. the problem started monday 8/0602020 etc.

Solution

Probably your problem is caused by the STS certificate and other certificate expired, look at this VMware KB:

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/76719

Comments

[DavidPostill]

"Check the vSphere Web Client server logs for details" Have you done this? Please edit and include the log in the question.

[She4Them]

I have check the logs and nothing to be found of recent. last logs were from 2019. the problem started monday 8/0602020

[Zina]

if last logs are from 2019 then either your disk is full or the services are not running. check with df -h