Error message connecting to GlobalProtect "The network connection is unreachable or the portal is unresponsive. Check the network connection and reconnect"

• GlobalProtect agent fails to connect to portal even though PC is able to resolve the correct IP for the portal
• Using the browser, the portal can be reached and agent can be downloaded.
• The following error message is seen on the GlobalProtect agent

The network connection is unreachable or the portal is unresponsive.
Check the network connection and reconnect.

• PAN-OS 10.1.4
• PA-3220
• GLobalProtect version 5.2.10
• Use of passcode to disable Global Protect

• When GlobalProtect APP is customized using step 8 of Customize GP APP  for users to disable the app with passcode, the passcode is set to use one or both of  angled backets ( "<" or ">" characters)
• Global Protect agent treats everything with Less-than sign and/or Greater-than sign as an open XML tag,
• This causes XML parsing error
• This is seen in the GlobalProtect agent logs 

04/01/22 03:47:21:932 end tag </u</passcode> not found 
04/01/22 03:47:21:932 end tag </passcode> not found
04/01/22 03:47:21:932 end tag </agent-ui> not found
04/01/22 03:47:21:932 Failed to parse portal config: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>

1. Change the password set (Step 8 of Customize GP APP ) as to not use the angle brackets "<" or ">"
2. This should  resolve the issue.

<agent-ui>
<can-save-password>yes</can-save-password>
<passcode>R?2939<u</passcode>