vSphere web client constantly logging out

[dnbth]

On a vCenter Server Applience v6.5, when logging into the vCenter Web Client (either Flash or HTML5 versions) or Appliance Management, the session gets logged out after a seemingly random amount of time, usually within a minute or two and sometimes immediately after logging in.  The web clients will give the error 'Your vSphere Client session is no longer authenticated. Please login again'.  I have tried both Firefox and IE and see the same behaviour in both.  I have checked the session.timeout value in /etc/VMware/vsphere-client/webclient.properties and it is set to the default value 120, and I've tried setting this value to 0.  I have rebooted the VCSA.  Can anyone help resolve this issue please?

[SupreetK]

Is the 'Enhanced Authentication Plugin' installed on the system from where you are trying to access the Web Client? If yes, can you uninstall the plugin, restart the system, reinstall the plugin and see if the issue persists?

Please consider marking this answer as "correct" or "helpful" if you think your questions have been answered.

Cheers,

Supreet

[dnbth]

Thanks for your reply.  I'm pretty sure the plugin isn't installed as there's no external LDAP source configured, just local (@vpshere.local) SSO users.  I've just tried creating a new local SSO user and adding it to the Administrators group via CLI and then logging in using this and got the exact same behaviour.

[SupreetK]

What is the version and build number of the vCenter appliance?

[dnbth]

If I recall correctly the build number is 4944578, meaning it's 6.5 0a Express Patch 1

[SupreetK]

Can you please upgrade the vCSA to the latest build 6.5 U2b (Build-8815520)? One of the similar issue seems to have been fixed in 6.5 U1 build.

Cheers,

Supreet

[dnbth]

Have updated to 8815520 (version now showing as 6.5.0.21000) and am still seeing the log out behaviour.

[SupreetK]

Cool. Let me check if we can get any further details on this.

Cheers,

Supreet

[dnbth]

Just as further information, I've had access to a regular Windows client host today on this network and tried IE and fresh new installs of Firefox & Chrome, trying both web clients in each and observed the same behaviour in them all.  Appreciate all your efforts so far on this matter.

[a_p_]

I've seen such behavior too, no matter whether it was the vCenter GUI, or the VAMI. Clearing the browser cache (and sometimes deleting cookies) usually solved the issue.

André

[dnbth]

a.p. I cleared browser cache earlier today and have just made sure to try again now but am still seeing the same behaviour I'm afraid.

[dnbth]

So I've managed to find what was causing my issue - it turned out to be me! :smileyblush:

I had accidentally powered on both the original VCSA VM and a clone of the VCSA at the same time, so two almost identical copies of the VCSA were running at the same time, and any web client would have been sending/receiving randomly to one or the other copy.  No wonder the client and the servers were getting confused.  I only realised when I shutdown what I thought was the VCSA, got distracted, logged back into the web client, then wondered what I was logging in to when the VCSA was 'shutdown' :smileysilly:

Thanks for those for who gave time trying to assist, apologies for it turning out to be me being dumb!

[SupreetK]

Glad you could find out :smileyhappy: Thank you for sharing the update!

Cheers,

Supreet

[Gianfranco Meschisi]

Thanks for sharing this (still useful after 6+ years), ciao

[Kelv1nW]

Thank you!  I've been bashing my head against the brickwall for 2 hours on this..

Seems I had exactly the same thing... I'd cloned my vCenter and suspended the original. But one of my power management scripts powered the original one back one DOH!

[Art3mis]

This is still happening under vcenter U3j and FF uninstalls and reinstalls aren't fixing it us.  We've got 6 production vcenters and 10-15 people all struggling with this.  Chrome is a good workaround...sort of, as long as you don't need to the pull downs for Menu to work all the time.