Turns out the issue with launching SDC in portal (vnc-portal) was a busted /etc/hosts - thanks to Yogini

https://wiki.onap.org/display/DW/ONAP+on+Kubernetes#ONAPonKubernetes-RunningONAPusingthevnc-portal

The services IP's don't match

/etc/hosts

10.43.104.206 sdc.api.be.simpledemo.openecomp.org

10.43.252.119 sdc.ui.simpledemo.openecomp.org

should be

10.43.104.206 sdc.api.be.simpledemo.openecomp.org

10.43.252.119 sdc.api.simpledemo.openecomp.org

to match

onap-sdc              sdc-be                 10.43.104.206   <nodes>       8443:30204/TCP,8080:30205/TCP                                                1h
onap-sdc              sdc-fe                 10.43.252.119   <nodes>       9443:30207/TCP,8181:30206/TCP                                                1h