VxRail: Health check fails for test 'vc_cm_mode'

Summary: Health-check returns an event indicating that VxVerify found an issue with the vCenter VMware Certificate Authority (VMCA) mode.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
Check out other resources

Symptoms

Test Result
Result code
    Result Interpretation
Pass
0
Test found no issue with vCenter's vmca mode (configured in 'vmca' mode, as expected)
Warning
1
Test found that vCenter's vmca mode is set to 'thumbprint' or 'custom'.
Failure 2 Test found no issue for vCenter's vmca mode - should not happen.
Critical 3
This test has no critical result.

Cause

The test checks vCenter's advanced configuration setting for 'The ESXi host's certificate management mode. Possible values are vmca, custom, thumbprint'.
The value found differs from 'vmca'.
 

Resolution

Correct the value to 'vmca' in vCenter's Advanced Configuration under Key name: vpxd.certmgmt.mode

Examples:

Wrong:

2022-11-07 16:46:24-WARNING  [vc_cm_mode]: VC vpxd.certmgmt.mode value in mob: 'thumbprint'.


image.png


Correct:

2022-11-07 16:17:04-INFO     [vc_cm_mode]: VC vpxd.certmgmt.mode value in mob: 'vmca' as expected!


image.png


Note:
There might have a valid reason not to use 'vmca' mode. Thus, after a successful upgrade the change can be reverted.

Note:
VxRail Node add procedure fails if the mode is other than 'vmca'.
 

Affected Products

VxRail, VxRail Software
Article Properties
Article Number: 000204891
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 05 Sept 2025
Version:  4
Find answers to your questions from other Dell users
Support Services
Check if your device is covered by Support Services.