Moving a virtualized vCenter Server virtual machine between ESXi/ESX hosts with different processor types (2058684)

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Document Id

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2058684

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Symptoms

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Purpose

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This article provides steps to move a vCenter Server from one processor type host to another processor type host.

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Cause

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Resolution

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Moving vCenter Server when there is shared storage between the hosts

Note: If you are running vCenter Server 5.1 and Single Sign-On (SSO) is on the virtual machine, then moving to another ESXi/ESX host with different hardware may impact SSO. For more information, see After making a change or restarting Single Sign On server system, vCenter Server 5.1.x fails to start (2036170).

Warning: If the vCenter Server virtual machine is running on a Virtual Distributed Switch (vDS), move the vCenter Server virtual machine to a standard vSwitch before proceeding with these steps.

To move vCenter Server between hosts when there is shared storage:

1. Shut down vCenter Server after making a note of the host on which it is running and the datastore on which it is residing. Both can be found on the Summary tab of the vCenter Server virtual machine.
2. Connect with the vSphere Client directly to the source ESXi/ESX host on which vCenter Server was running.
3. Right-click vCenter Server and click Remove from Inventory.
4. Connect with the vSphere Client directly to the destination ESXi/ESX host on which you want the vCenter Server virtual machine to run.
5. Right-click the datastore on which vCenter Server is stored and click Browse datastore.
6. Open the directory for vCenter Server, right-click the .vmx file and click Add to Inventory.
7. Power on the vCenter Server virtual machine.

Note: The first time you power up a moved virtual machine, a uuid.altered message displays. Select I moved it to keep the existing uuid. There may be a slight delay for vCenter Server virtual machine to correct its own location in the vCenter Server database.

Moving vCenter Server when the hosts do not have shared storage

To move vCenter Server between hosts when storage is not shared, perform one of these options:

Note: These options require the MAC of the virtual machine to be manually set. For more information, see Setting a static MAC address for a virtual NIC (219).

• Clone vCenter Server from one host to another:

1. Select the vCenter Server virtual machine from the Inventory.
2. Right-click the virtual machine and click Clone.
3. Select the destination ESXi/ESX host.
4. Power off vCenter Server on the source host.
5. Power on the vCenter Server virtual machine on the destination ESXi/ESX host.

• Export vCenter Server as an Open Virtual Machine Format (OVF):

1. Connect the vSphere Client to the ESXi/ESX host running the vCenter Server virtual machine.
2. Power off the vCenter Server virtual machine.
3. Click File > Export > Export OVF Template.
4. Connect the vSphere Client directly to the destination ESXi/ESX host.
5. Click File - Deploy OVF Template.
6. Power on the vCenter Server virtual machine

Original Post : https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2058684