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Error “Cannot connect to the vCenter server due to a certificate error” Appears During Host Connection

When configuring XenDesktop 7 to connect to vCenter, you may receive the error displayed in the screenshot below.

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There are a few different methods to resolve or workaround the issue.  Ideally, you should replace the vCenter certificate with a trusted certificate.  We’ll discuss that method in a future blog post.  You can also visit Derek Seaman’s blog for some excellent documentation.

As a workaround, you can perform the following on each of your XenDesktop 7 controllers.

  1. Open Internet Explorer: Right-click and Run as Administrator

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  1. Enter the https://URL for your vCenter server an select Continue to this website

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  1. Click the Certificate Error message and select View Certificates

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  1. Select the Details tab and select Copy to File…

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  1. Click Next

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  1. Select Base-64 encoded X.509 and click Next

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  1. Save the certificate to a file server you can get to from each XenDesktop 7 controller, click Next

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  1. Click Finish

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  1. On each XenDesktop 7 controller, open the MMC snap-in for Certificates (Local Computer)
  2. Right-click Trusted People, select All Tasks  and Import…

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  1. Browse to the certificate created in Step 7 and click Next

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  1. Click Finish.  Return to XenDesktop Studio and connect to vCenter

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