Revert a vSphere cluster from vLCM single-image to independent host management

Products

• VMware NSX

Issue/Introduction

Once a vSphere cluster is converted to use a single image via vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM), VMware does not provide a direct button or toggle in the vSphere Client to revert or disable image management on that specific cluster. To move away from a vLCM single-image cluster back to independent host management or baselines, you must create a new cluster and move your hosts.

Environment

• vSphere
• vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM)

Cause

This is expected behavior. There is no direct method or toggle within the vSphere Client to revert or disable image management on a specific cluster once it is under vLCM single-image control.

Resolution

To remove a cluster from vLCM control, you must migrate the hosts to a newly created cluster. Follow these steps:

1. Create a new cluster in your vCenter inventory without enabling single-image management.
2. Place an ESXi host from the vLCM cluster into Maintenance Mode.
3. Move the host out of the old vLCM cluster and into the new cluster.
4. Exit Maintenance Mode on the host once it resides in the new cluster.
5. Repeat this process for the remaining hosts until the original vLCM cluster is empty.
6. Delete the empty original vLCM cluster.

Additional Information

Reverting a Cluster from vLCM Image Management to VUM Baseline Management