Host restored to factory network settings

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Summary

    Using the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI), a user restored the host's networking settings to the factory default settings.

Example

    Selecting the "Network Restore Options" > "Restore Network Settings" option from the DCUI, it resets the configuration details.

Impact

    Resetting a host's network settings to factory default settings has the following results:

• All existing vSwitches, port groups, and vmknics are removed on the host.
• The host is assigned a new IP address.
• The host becomes inaccessible from vCenter Server due to the change in the IP address.
• Networking of all virtual machines on the ESXi host is affected.

    NOTE:

In VMware ESXi 7.0 - Back up the configuration by using the Get-VMHostFirmware PowerCLI cmdlet. For 7.0 refer to How to back up and restore the ESXi host configuration - C. vSphere PowerCLI

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0

Resolution

Log in as administrator and use the host's new IP address to re-establish the connection from vCenter Server to the host.