Configuring an ESX host to display FQDN instead of IP address in vCenter without losing performance data

Configuring an ESX host to display FQDN instead of IP address in vCenter without losing performance data


Purpose

This article provides steps for displaying an ESX host's Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) instead of its IP address in the vCenter Inventory without losing performance data for the ESX host while making the change.

Resolution

To configure an ESX host to display the FQDN in the vCenter inventory:

  1. Disconnect the ESX host from the Inventory in vCenter. Do not remove it from the Inventory.
  2. Log in to the ESX host as root using an SSH client. If login with an SSH client is not possible, log in to the physical console of the ESX host as user root.
  3. Delete the vpxuser account with the command:

    userdel vpxuser

    Note:
    The vpxuser account facilitates communication between the ESX host and vCenter. It is created again when the ESX host is connected back to the Inventory in vCenter.

  4. Right-click on the ESX host in vCenter and choose Connect.

    In vCenter Server 4.0 the following error displays:

    Cannot complete due login due to an incorrect username or password

    In vCenter Server 2.5 the tasks show the error:

    Login failed due to a bad username or password

    These messages can be safely ignored.

  5. Enter the FQDN for the ESX host and login credentials for the root user to add the ESX host to the Inventory in vCenter using its FQDN.