Failure While Migrating ESXi Host and vCenter Networking from Virtual Standard Switch to Virtual Distributed Switch — “The specified key, name, or identifier already exists. The host is already a member of the VDS infrastructure.”

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

During migration of all networking components from a Virtual Standard Switch (VSS) to a vSphere Distributed Switch (VDS), the task fails and rolls back to the original configuration.

This occurs when the vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) and the ESXi Management VMkernel (vmk0) are moved simultaneously.

The error - 'Moving ESXi Host and vCenter Networking from Virtual Standard Switch to Virtual Distributed Switch Fails with Error "The specified key, name, or identifier already exists, the host is already a member of VDS infrastructure.' when the network migrtaion activity fails.

Environment

VMware ESXi 

Cause

When the vCenter Server VM and the ESXi management VMkernel interface (vmk0) are migrated from a Virtual Standard Switch (VSS) to a Distributed Virtual Switch (VDS) simultaneously, a brief network state transition occurs during the operation.

Since the VDS configuration is managed through vCenter, this temporary interruption disrupts the SSL handshake and heartbeat communication between vCenter and the ESXi host. As a result, vCenter is unable to validate the successful application of the updated network configuration.

To avoid potential host isolation, the migration process automatically triggers a network rollback, reverting the configuration back to the VSS.

Resolution

• To maintain a stable connection throughout the process, we transitioned the components using a phased approach:

1. 1. Move Initial Uplink & Management kernel: Migrate a single physical uplink(corresponding to the management vmkernel) and the Management VMkernel to the VDS.
   2. vCenter Migration: Move the vCenter Server VM to its new distributed port group.
   3. VM and Other VMkernel Migration: Move the VMs and VMkernel interfaces present on other port groups to the corresponding VDS port groups.
   4. Final Cleanup: Move the remaining physical uplink to the VDS to restore full redundancy.

• This incremental method ensured migration of the vCenter, virtual machines and vmkernels to the distributed switch without having to migrate the vCenter to another host.

Additional Information

You may also refer Moving ESXi Host and vCenter Networking from Virtual Standard Switch to Virtual Distributed Switch Fails with Error "The specified key, name, or identifier already exists, the host is already a member of VDS infrastructure."