The PEA file is invalid in some way.  Check that the connection string is like

IPAddr1,IPAddr2?\pathnametopeafile

ALso is there a replica centera ?

Originally the client had "10.140.38.21?  D:\pcxarchive.pea".  This resulted in "Failed to autheticate PEA data" on the initial pool open.  Once I had them remove the space after the ? the client then received the "Authentication failed (transid='PAGECENTERX/24/AUTH')" error. Has the client possibly copied invalid data into the PEA file to receive the error?  I do not know if they use replication.  What other suggestions should I ask the client?

The cluster can have multiple applications writing to it and each would have its own virtual pool/profile.  Even if the virtual pool for your application is not being replicated, because the cluster has replication running on it you still need to set up the PEA file and profiles as if it is

The most frequent cause of an error when the customer thinks the PEA file should work is that they forgot that they have a replica cluster and they need to follow these steps

- create the profile on the primary and create pea file

- export the profile and import it on the replca

- create a pea file for the profile on the replica

- merge these two pea files (copy the ... section from one into the other

and then use the merged file

Find out if replication is present and we'll take if from there

The client's reponse for replication is "The answer to your question is Yes, but this option was not setup for our project with Centera T3 space." 

Based upon this answer I would assume the pool we are connecting to does not have the replaction option invoked.

After passing along the information you have given the client is now successfully connecting to the Centera device.  Thank you for the help.