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potthoff
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Orphaned VM's on ESX server still running.

I have four ESX servers. Several VM's are showing orphaned and there aren't any VM's listed under Virtual Client for Server #2. When I use Virtual Client to connect directly to Server #2 it shows all my orphaned VM's and they are running. I have tried to disconnect and reconnect Server 2 from the Virtual client which says it worked but it still does not show the running VM's unless I connect directly to the server #2. The VM's will not migrate. There are two VM's that I would prefer not to shut off. I know how to add orphaned VM's back in if the the VM is off but is there anyway to move them to the other ESX servers without shutting them down?

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dangsb
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Instead of disconnecting remove the esx server from vc and then re-add the host to vc. Once you do this you may have a problem re-connecting the esx box through vc. If this happens ssh into the esx box and run this command as root "service mgmt-vmware restart" Afterwards you should be able to add the esx box to vc along with all the vms on the box up and running. This worked for me.

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Byron_Zhao
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Try to stop VirtualCenter service, and start it backup. It fixes this problem most of the time.

-BZ

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potthoff
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The ESX server is in the list but still does not show any VM's running on it and the orphaned VM's are still there. I rebooted the managment server as well.

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johnpearson
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I had this problem once and the only thing that fixed it was a reboot of the ESX box. I know this probably isn't what you wanted to hear, but it works. I tried restarting services and a host of other things to no avail. -JP

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dangsb
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Instead of disconnecting remove the esx server from vc and then re-add the host to vc. Once you do this you may have a problem re-connecting the esx box through vc. If this happens ssh into the esx box and run this command as root "service mgmt-vmware restart" Afterwards you should be able to add the esx box to vc along with all the vms on the box up and running. This worked for me.

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potthoff
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This command fixed my problem.

"ssh into the esx box and run this command as root "service mgmt-vmware restart"

Only took a couple of minutes. Thanks to everyone who responded.

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XavierE
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In my case I had to ssh into the esx box and run the command as root "service mgmt-vmware restart"

Additionally, I had to restart the VC service on the VC server.

(running ESX 3.5 U2, and VC 2.5 U2)

If this was helpful please assign points

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