# Node creation stuck with message WaitingForNodeRef

**URL:** <https://forums.suse.com/t/node-creation-stuck-with-message-waitingfornoderef/44222>\
**Category:** SUSE Rancher Prime\
**Created:** [October 3, 2024, 1:28pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/node-creation-stuck-with-message-waitingfornoderef/44222 "2024-10-03T13:28:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ranchom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e8cbc/32.png) [@ranchom](https://forums.suse.com/u/ranchom)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 1:28pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/node-creation-stuck-with-message-waitingfornoderef/44222/1 "2024-10-03T13:28:21Z")

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Hi!

I am going crazy trying to discover why new nodes provisioned by Rancher are stuck with the message “Waiting for Node Ref”. The host is up with SSH ready, I can remotely login but no action is performed to continue with the installation and configuration RKE2. I do not know what can I do or check to discover what is failing.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/3/3c82846905d071622f33224f754b59fc266baf74.png)

```yaml
status:
  bootstrapReady: true
  conditions:
    - lastTransitionTime: '2024-10-03T12:19:56Z'
      status: 'True'
      type: Ready
    - lastTransitionTime: '2024-10-03T12:19:46Z'
      status: 'True'
      type: BootstrapReady
    - lastTransitionTime: '2024-10-03T12:23:45Z'
      status: 'True'
      type: InfrastructureReady
    - lastTransitionTime: '2024-10-03T12:19:46Z'
      reason: WaitingForNodeRef
      severity: Info
      status: 'False'
      type: NodeHealthy
  lastUpdated: '2024-10-03T12:19:46Z'
  observedGeneration: 2
  phase: Provisioning

```

My setup:

- Rancher 2.9.2
- RKE2 v1.30.4+rke2r1
- Cloud VMware
- I am trying to configure static IP address on the nodes. I follow the steps provided in [https://www.virtualthoughts.co.uk/2020/03/29/rancher-vsphere-network-protocol-profiles-and-static-ip-addresses-for-k8s-nodes/](https://www.virtualthoughts.co.uk/2020/03/29/rancher-vsphere-network-protocol-profiles-and-static-ip-addresses-for-k8s-nodes/) . I can set an static IP address, I can login remotely by SSH but the provision of the node is stuck.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![R2D2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forums.suse.com/r2d2/32/10188_2.png) [@R2D2](https://forums.suse.com/u/R2D2)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/node-creation-stuck-with-message-waitingfornoderef/44222/2 "2024-10-04T00:04:09Z")

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Aye,

The problem is at the CPI layer in communication with the infrastructure provider.  
What do you mean by Cloud VMware?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ranchom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e8cbc/32.png) [@ranchom](https://forums.suse.com/u/ranchom)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 6:25am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/node-creation-stuck-with-message-waitingfornoderef/44222/3 "2024-10-04T06:25:20Z")

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Sorry, I explain bad. I mean Rancher uses vSphere cloud provider to deploy RKE2 nodes in VMware.

I am using “Default RKE2 Embedded” CPI. At the beginning, I used vSphere CSI/CPI, but later I migrate to longhorn for PV and I modified the cluster to use the Default RKE2 CPI provider [following your recommendations](https://forums.suse.com/t/remove-rke2-cloud-provider/43307/6).

It seems to be something wrong with the cluster, because new nodes are not deployed:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/6/623e00e79777bb31c328e29a29a59b0830a3eeed.png)

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/1/1fd3f5615032d5711312f03ca3a3b1bcbbf66cbe.png)

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/9/9205d326463c556ddde8cba66beb4a30b0c55cc8.png)

Could I check some logs or Could I do some checks to know what is wrong?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![R2D2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forums.suse.com/r2d2/32/10188_2.png) [@R2D2](https://forums.suse.com/u/R2D2)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 7:21am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/node-creation-stuck-with-message-waitingfornoderef/44222/4 "2024-10-04T07:21:55Z")

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You can check rancher logs (RMS)(try change verbosity).  
Show what is Provider ID for all this cluster’s machines (Cluster Management → Machines).  
From what you have attached it appears that the provider for this cluster is VMware.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ranchom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e8cbc/32.png) [@ranchom](https://forums.suse.com/u/ranchom)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 12:22pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/node-creation-stuck-with-message-waitingfornoderef/44222/5 "2024-10-04T12:22:59Z")

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Thanks @R2D2 for your comments! I will try the next week to check it. As soon as I find something, I will provide feedback just it is suitable for other users!