changing the IP address for a vcenter vm

[ronsmetco]

I have a vCenter VM that need to change IP addesses and VLANs.

Does anyone have a bullet proof method for doing this?

I have googled a lot of items that talk about changing the IP address of a VM, but not of a VM vCenter.

Am I missing something here---is it incredibly easy---or is it so obscure that it may be easier to delete it and recreate it at a location where it should reside?

Thanks.

[SimonStrutt · Accepted solution]

Its not overly difficult, but there are a few clean-up tasks you'll have to complete once its IP has been changed (resolve ESX connectivity to your vCentre, fix Update Manager, etc).  If you have a small, newly set-up virtual infrastructure you might consider recreating your vCentre, but its probably easier not to.

As your vCentre is a VM, make sure you can connect your VI Client directly to the ESX that's hosting it, otherwise you could end up changing the VC's IP, and losing access via VI Client/RDP/VNC etc.  Apart from that, the fact that its a VM is of little consequence.

Not sure why you've not found anything via Google, there's plenty out there, see the following to get you started...

www.google.com/search?q=change+vcenter+ip+address

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1001493

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1014639

[MauroBonder]

Tip: Don´t forget of clear old entire on DNS  and register new record DNS with FQND.

[Shakaal]

Hi,

as it is a VM, you can create a clone of it before making any changes also you can take snapshot and revert back to it incase if things doesn't work out for you after chaning the IP and following all the Doc's mentioned.

Regards

[ronsmetco]

OK, thanks for all the help.

The part that I was missing was answered by Simon...

I was worried about losing connectivity to the VC VM when I changed the IP address (and the network it would reside on).

Since I should be able to get to the VC VM by going to the ESXi host that it resides on, this solves that.

I had seen the other posts on google regarding getting the other ESXi hosts to reconnect to the VC after the IP address had changed...

The append by Shakaal was  helpful as well. I had planned to take a snapshot of this VM prior to any work (that is why working with VMs are cool---you can fix your screw-ups....)

And thanks MauroBonder for the reminder to update the dns....