Changing an ESXi host's connection status in vCenter Server

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

For troubleshooting and maintenance purposes, it may be necessary to change the connection status of an ESXi from within vCenter Server.

 

This article provides steps to disconnect an ESXi  host, connect an ESXi  and test reconnection of an ESXi host in vCenter Server.

Symptoms:

• Changing an ESXi  host's connection status in vCenter Server

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 6.x
VMware vCenter Server 7.x
VMware vCenter Server 8.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x

Resolution

Testing reconnection of an ESXi to vCenter Server

To diagnose communication problems between an ESXi host and vCenter Server, VMware recommends that you disconnect the ESXi  host and then reconnect it.

 

To test reconnection of an ESXi  host to vCenter Server:
 

1. Login to the vSphere Client.
   
   Note: If your ESXi host is already disconnected proceed to step 5.
    
2. Right click on the ESXi  host in the Inventory.
3. Click Disconnect.
   
   Note: A disconnect host task appears in the recent tasks pane.
    
4. Wait until the task status changes to complete.
5. Right click on the ESXi from the Inventory.
6. Click Connect.
   
   Note: A reconnect host task appears in the recent tasks pane.
    

Wait until the task status changes to complete.

If the host status remains unchanged, restart the host management agents.

1. SSH to the ESXi host via root
2. Restart the 2 below management agents

/etc/init.d/hostd restart
/etc/init.d/vpxa restart

For additional details: Restarting the Management agents in ESXi