Adding ESX server credentials to NetBackup fails with VMware credential validation failed Unable to match host name expecting localhost

Problem

While adding ESX Credentials, validation fails with VMware credential validation failed as it does not find a matching name.

Error Message

The NetBackup Administration Console > New Virtual Machine Server popup error window will show:

VMware credential validation failed. (Status -1)
Unable to match host name, expecting localhost

Cause

A (.) period was being appended to the name of ESXi server, as the domain name was not defined on the ESXi server.

Troubleshooting

The bpVMutil log on the VMware backup/restore host will show the following:

10:54:23.051 [5940.9676] <2> virtlogcallback: vmwareLogger: VerifyESXHostNameAPI: Verifying esxserver against esxserver.: NOT A MATCH
10:54:23.051 [5940.9676] <2> virtlogcallback: vmwareLogger: VerifyESXHostNameAPI: Could not verify esxserver
10:54:23.051 [5940.9676] <2> test_VM_cred: Unable to match host name, expecting: esxserver.
10:54:23.051 [5940.9676] <2> bpVMutil main: Credential validation status: -1

Solution

Add the domain name to the ESXi server.

Option 1 - via the VMware UI

1. Login to the VCenter server and highlight the ESX host.
2. Click on TCP/IP configuration under Networking.
3. Click Edit for Default under TCP/IP stack.
4. Add the domain name only.
   Example:
   

Option 2 - via the command line

1. On the ESXi host, run the following command:
   • Syntax:
     # esxcli system hostname set --domain=<domain name>
2. Then try to add the ESXi Credentials into NetBackup.
   • Note: Veritas recommends the use of fully qualified names. The entire name must be properly formed without empty or null elements. For example, a fully-qualified name must include the domain name and not end in a period (.).

For more details, see the Adding NetBackup credentials for VMware section in the Veritas NetBackup™ for VMware Administrator's Guide.