Rename esxi host from IP address to DNS name in OPS Manager?

[bleblancSC]

Hello,

If a host was added to vCenter by IP address and OPS manager installed but later the host was removed and added back with the DNS name, is there a way in OPS manager to "rename" the instance to the DNS name, while maintaining the historical data?

It still shows in OPS manager as an IP address.

Thanks in advance.

[gradinka]

If that host has a new uuid within VC (which should be the case), vcops will forget the old object and discover the new one.
Unfortunately there is no simple way of reattaching historical data from one resource to another.

however, if the host uuid stays the same, vcops will know it's the same object.

[mark_j]

It depends what you mean by  'removed'. If it is removed from vCenter, when it is readded to vCenter it'll get a new unique ID and thus a new resourcewithin vC Ops. If the VM or Host System instance is renamed in vCenter, it will also be renamed in vC Ops since it recognizes that the unique ID is the same and the name is simply a secondary property.

[bleblancSC]

Let me clarify.

Originally when the ESXi hosts were added/connected to vCenter they were added under their IP addresses and would show up as such.  IP addresses aren't the best descriptor so the hosts were removed from vCenter by right clicking on the hosts and selecting remove (not disconnect).  Then those same hosts were added/connected back to vCenter but this time using their DNS names, instead of IP addresses.

The issue is if you log into vCOPS standalone UI then the hosts still show as their IP address.

Is there a way to rename so that the hosts can show in vCOPS the same as in vCenter?

[mark_j]

You're actually doing the more volatile option, remove, instead of the temporary disconnect. If you disconnected instead, they would have stayed sync'd up wth vC Ops and kept the same vCenter uuid. I'm betting after you do what you describe, you see the old hostname with the IP in addition to a new resource with the name, right? Because you're removing (volatile) instead of disconnecting (temporary/maint).

Of, if you just did nothing with respect to disconnect/reconnect in vCenter.. if you just renamed the host, reboot it, and let it come up everything would be happy and healthy.

[bleblancSC]

My understanding was that if an ESXi host is connected to vCenter as the IP address then the only way to effectively rename it is my removing it and adding it back using the DNS name instead. 

Is that not the case?

[bouke]

You could have used: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&docTypeID=DT_KB_1_1&e...

However, that is too late now since you got a new Id and vcops started collecting info on that. Like gradinka said: there is no easy way to migrate the collected data and merge them with the new one.

If you have vcops advanced you can go to "Environment -> Environment Overview". If you're running standard you'll need to go a different route. Open ssh session to the analyser VM (the second-vm). Change 'deleteNotExisting = false' to 'deleteNotExisting = true' in '/usr/lib/vmware-vcops/user/conf/controller/controller.properties'. You'll need to wait 24 hours, but you could change that 24 in 'deletionSchedulePeriod'...

Goodluck!