Network Management

System.FormatException: The input is not a valid Base-64 string as it contains a non-base 64 character

Orion NPM is not processing all incoming syslogs with an error message saying the input is not a valid Base-64 string.

First published date

10/18/2018 6:26 AM

Last published date

9/20/2022 1:43 PM

Overview

Orion NPM is not processing all expected Syslog messages when a device forwards syslogs. On the log 'C:\ProgramData\SolarWinds\Logs\Orion\SyslogService.log' will contain the following error: 
WARN SolarWinds.Syslog.SyslogPacketBase - Decode packet failed, packet missing starting '<'
- Error Decoding Packet

System.FormatException: The input is not a valid Base-64 string as it contains a non-base 64 character, more than two padding characters, or an illegal character among the padding characters.
at System.Convert.FromBase64_Decode(Char* startInputPtr, Int32 inputLength, Byte* startDestPtr, Int32 destLength)
at System.Convert.FromBase64CharPtr(Char* inputPtr, Int32 inputLength)
at System.Convert.FromBase64String(String s)
at SolarWinds.Syslog.SyslogPacketBase.DecodePacket(Boolean enableRfcRelay)



 

Product section

Network Performance Monitor

Cause

The received Syslog was forwarded to Orion instead of originating with the device sending the Syslog to Orion.

Resolution

  1. Access the advanced configuration setting: Advanced Configuration access in Orion Platform
  2. Locate: SyslogService.SyslogSettings
  3. Set: EnableRfcRelay to enable or put a check on a box
  4. Save settings 
  5. Restart Orion services