Changing the Windows vCenter Server 5.1 and 5.5 hostname

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

This article provides steps to rename the vCenter Server 5.1 and 5.5 host name.

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 5.1.x
VMware vCenter Server 5.5.x

Resolution

Changing the host name of a Windows vCenter Server invalidates the SSL certificates that are used to encrypt session information. vCenter Server will fail to start if the certificates are invalid. Reinstalling vCenter Server will reuse the old certificates if the file directories are still present after uninstalling vCenter Server.

To change the hostname of the vCenter Server:

1. Change the name of the vCenter Server host.
2. Stop the VMware vCenter Server services.
3. In Windows 2008 and later, delete certificates in the directories listed below:
   
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware VirtualCenter\SSL
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\Infrastructure\Inventory Service\ssl
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\vSphere Web Client\ssl
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\CIS
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\CIS\cfg\vmware-sso
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\CIS\cfg\vmdird
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\CIS\runtime\VMwareSTS\conf
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware Syslog Collector\ssl
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware vSphere Auto Deploy\ssl
   
   Note: In Windows 2003, the path is located at C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\
   
   
4. Uninstall vCenter Server.
5. Restart the system.
6. Reinstall vCenter Server.

If you have already changed the host name and uninstalled (or reinstalled) vCenter Server, you must still remove the old certificate.

1. Stop the VMware vCenter Server services.
2. In Windows 2008 and later, delete certificates in the directories listed below:
   
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware VirtualCenter\SSL
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\Infrastructure\Inventory Service\ssl
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\vSphere Web Client\ssl
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\CIS
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\CIS\cfg\vmware-sso
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\CIS\cfg\vmdird
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\CIS\runtime\VMwareSTS\conf
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware Syslog Collector\ssl
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware vSphere Auto Deploy\ssl
   
   Note: In Windows 2003, the path is located at C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\
   
   
3. Uninstall vCenter Server.
4. Restart the system.
5. Reinstall vCenter Server.

Note: vCenter Server can be reinstalled with or without using an existing Database.

Additional Information

Stopping, starting, or restarting VMware vCenter Server services (1003895)
How to stop, start, or restart vCenter Server services
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Cannot change the vCenter Server or Platform Service Controller 6.x hostname
更改 Windows vCenter Server 5.1 和 5.5 主机名