move vcenter to another datastore

[DaveKing43]

Hello, I tried to move the vCenter server to another datastore as the existing Datasotre needs to be decomissioned. I started the migrate and it seems to be moving along fine. I lost connectivity to vSphere, the only way I can connect is dorectly to one of the ESX servers. I can see th evcenter server but I now have 2 of them. One still showing on the old datastore and one on the new, but all optoipns are grayed out. The old Datastore server looks to nbe on, but only a blue screen. not sure how to fix. running vsphere 5.1. My gol is to decomission this old environment, but I am stiuk, any help woul dbe appreciated, I am new to VMware, not an expert.

[Debashish_Rath]

Do you see the Blue Screen on the vCenter machine console ?

[Debashish_Rath]

It will be better to restart the vCenter Machine or re-register back to the Inventory. 

[DaveKing43]

The Blue screen was on the console, apparently it was trying to shut down, it finally has, now the second instance of the vcenter shows as Orphaned. I assume th eDatastore move failed. can you tell me th ebest way to move this to another Datastore, I initally left the server on and did a Migrate of the Datastore only, but it took over 8 hours and failed. not sure if this is the correct way to move. thanks for your help

[Debashish_Rath · Accepted solution]

Storage vMotion should be the correct option moving from one Datastore to another.

[DaveKing43]

So it is OK to do it while th system is powered on, not sure why it failed th efirst time, but
I can try it again. I will follow up, thanks

[ibeydogan]

you should try disconnect vcenter's host from cluster  and re-connect host to cluster

[AjayChananaVMwa]

Hello Dave,

The best way in your situation I can recommend to do cloning of the vCenter server. Or you may perform v2v conversion.

[sjesse]

Stroage vmotion is the best option, I'm not sure why would ever do a v2v conversion for somethign this simple.Vmotion failed because of the bluescreen, if it happens again you have more problems then just storage vmotioning vcenter. I'd open a ticket with support.

[adgate]

Another option is to move the it manually

VMware Knowledge Base

How to migrate vCenter VM to a different datastore without Vmotion - Spiceworks