ESX host in lockdown mode has an IP change failure

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• ESX host is in lockdown mode.
  
  
• Removed host from vCenter and changed IP through Web client.
  
  
• Moved host to new location and cannot re-add host.
  
  
• Host web client is inoperable in the new location.

Environment

ESX 8.x

Cause

Host is in lockdown mode.

Resolution

• Establish connectivity to the host vSphere web client with the new IP.
  
  Note, Use a jumpbox on the same Layer 2 Broadcast domain to connect to the ESX host using the new IP.
  
  
• Use the vSphere web client to disable lockdown mode.
  
  
• Validate and correct IP addressing before re-adding the ESX host to vCenter server.

 

Additional Information

To increase the security of ESXi hosts, they can be placed in Lockdown mode. This article provides information on enabling or disabling Lockdown mode on an ESXi host.