migrate vcenter host to another ESXi host while offline?

[Derek_Purdy]

I need to move the VMs that host my vCenter and vCenter Database to ESXi servers in another cluster, the new cluster uses EVC while the old Cluster does not. So I need to power off the two VMs to migrate them over.

Would this work and be the best method?

Stop vCenter and shutdown the VMs for vCenter and the vCenter DB.

Log into old esx server and unregister VM

vmware-cmd -s unregister /vmfs/volumes/XXX-XXX/vcenter-db/vcenter-db.vmx
vmware-cmd -s unregister /vmfs/volumes/XXX-XXX/vcenter/vcenter.vmx

Log into new esx server (in new cluster) and register VM

vmware-cmd -s register /vmfs/volumes/XXX-XXX/vcenter-db/vcenter-db.vmx
vmware-cmd -s register /vmfs/volumes/XXX-XXX/vcenter/vcenter.vmx

log into new esx server (in new cluster) and start VMs

vmware-cmd /vmfs/volumes/XXX-XXX/vcenter-db/vcenter-db.vmx start
vmware-cmd /vmfs/volumes/XXX-XXX/vcenter/vcenter.vmx start

[weinstein5]

Yes that will work - you could also use the vSphere client connecting directly to the ESXi hosts and perform the same functions - 

[Derek_Purdy]

Thanks, I didn't know you could vmotion between clusters while vCenter was offline. (via the vSphere Client)

[weinstein5 · Accepted solution]

No you cannot vmotion - the vms will still be down - you will connect directly to the ESXi hosts - unregister the vm form the old host - connect to the new host and redisster the vms to the new host and power them on - and remember thepower on the DB server first

[Derek_Purdy]

Thanks!