EMC UIM/P cannot start vCenter synchronization

Environment: EMC UIM 4.0 upgraded to UIM 4.1

You may get the following error messages when trying to start vCenter synchronization:

• * Error initiating synchronization.
  
• viu.error: key not found
  

This happens because UIM/P 4.1 doesn’t like special characters like ‘ & ‘ and ‘ ! ‘ etc. in neither Service Offering name nor in Service description.

The resolution depends on where you have unwanted special character.

If it’s in the Description field only:

• Select your Service;
• Click on edit;
• On general tab click edit and modify description;
• Click on Save, click on Close and retry synchronization.

If it’s in Service Offering name – use SAU or contact VCE  Support:

• Rediscover Vblock;
• Perform full database backup using /opt/ionix-uim/tools/backup.pl script;
• Make a note of current vCenter settings;
• Unmanage Service using SAU;
• Mark old Service Offering unavailable and delete it;
• Re-adopt Service – make sure you don’t not use special characters;
• Put back vCenter settings to your service;
• Retry synchronization.

(c) Zbigniew ‘Ziggy’ Misiak