Internal error in SUSE Manager web UI - cobbler authentication exception shown in logs

This document (7018801) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment

SUSE Manager 3
SUSE Manager 4
SUSE Manager 4.1

Situation

Many tasks in the SUSE Manager web UI throw a "Internal server error", such as when trying to delete a system from SUSE Manager. When checking the cobbler logs (in /var/log/cobbler directory), the following messages are logged:

Thu Mar 30 11:43:00 2017 - INFO | authenticate; ['taskomatic_user', False]
Thu Mar 30 11:43:00 2017 - INFO | Exception occured: <class 'cobbler.cexceptions.CX'>
Thu Mar 30 11:43:00 2017 - INFO | Exception value: 'login failed (taskomatic_user)'
Thu Mar 30 11:43:00 2017 - INFO | Exception Info:
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site-packages/cobbler/utils.py", line 126, in die
    raise CX(msg)

Thu Mar 30 11:43:00 2017 - INFO | Exception occured: <class 'cobbler.cexceptions.CX'>
Thu Mar 30 11:43:00 2017 - INFO | Exception value: 'login failed (taskomatic_user)'
Thu Mar 30 11:43:00 2017 - INFO | Exception Info:
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site-packages/cobbler/remote.py", line 2084, in _dispatch
    return method_handle(*params)
   File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site-packages/cobbler/remote.py", line 1887, in login
    utils.die(self.logger, "login failed (%s)" % login_user)
   File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site-packages/cobbler/utils.py", line 134, in die
    raise CX(msg)

Thu Mar 30 11:43:04 2017 - INFO | authenticate; ['taskomatic_user', False]
Thu Mar 30 11:43:04 2017 - INFO | Exception occured: <class 'cobbler.cexceptions.CX'>
Thu Mar 30 11:43:04 2017 - INFO | Exception value: 'login failed (taskomatic_user)'
Thu Mar 30 11:43:04 2017 - INFO | Exception Info:
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site-packages/cobbler/utils.py", line 126, in die
    raise CX(msg)

Thu Mar 30 11:43:04 2017 - INFO | Exception occured: <class 'cobbler.cexceptions.CX'>
Thu Mar 30 11:43:04 2017 - INFO | Exception value: 'login failed (taskomatic_user)'
Thu Mar 30 11:43:04 2017 - INFO | Exception Info:
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site-packages/cobbler/remote.py", line 2084, in _dispatch
    return method_handle(*params)
   File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site-packages/cobbler/remote.py", line 1887, in login
    utils.die(self.logger, "login failed (%s)" % login_user)
   File "/usr/lib/python2.7/site-packages/cobbler/utils.py", line 134, in die
    raise CX(msg)

In addition, the "cobbler-sync-default" task is failing (can also be checked in the web UI: admin - task schedules)

Resolution

Verify the /etc/cobbler/settings file and should the following line exist:

redhat_management_server: "xmlrpc.rhn.redhat.com"

adjust it with the FQDN of the SUSE Manager Server (hostname):

redhat_management_server: "yoursusemanager.your_fqdn.domain"

After saving the file restart the services:

spacewalk-service restart

Cause

1. The file was likely incorrectly modified / updated during the migration from SUSE Manager 2.1 to 3.0.

2. The FQDN of the host has not been used.

Disclaimer

This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.