How to convert&migrate VCSA with embedded to an external PSC?

By | November 8, 2015

Today I received an email from my reader with question about converting/migrating vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) with Embedded Platform Services Controller to the external PSC. Fortunately, since vSphere 6.0 U1, vCenter Server can be repointed from embedded to external PSC.How to convert&migrate VCSA with embedded PSC to an external?I decided to write a post about it as it can be useful when you want to convert your VCSA or Windows vCenter to get better performance and scalability. You can build a highly available Platform Services Controllers based on external PSC only.

If you need to update your VCSA to 6.0 U1, please follow the below posts:

  1. How to patch VCSA 6.0?
  2. Problems after updating to VCSA 6.0 U1.

To convert VCSA please follow the below steps:

  1. Deploy and configure an external Platform Services Controller as I already described some months ago and join the PSC to the SSO domain.
  2. Log in to the VCSA via SSH and enable shell:

    shell.set --enabled True

  3. Please check that all PSC services (VMware License Service , VMware Identity Management Service , VMware Security Token Service , VMware Certificate Service, and VMware Directory Service) are running:

    service-control --status --all

  4. Run the following command to repoint VCSA:

    cmsso-util reconfigure --repoint-psc psc_fqdn_or_static_ip --username username --domain-name domain_name --passwd password [--dc-port port_number]

    cmsso-util reconfigure --repoint-psc ext-psc.nihonno.domein --username administrator --domain-name vsphere.local -passwd my_password

  5. Log in via Web Client to the vCenter. Now you should use VCSA with external PSC.
Author: Mariusz

Architect (~ 15 years experience based on passion...) with strong background as a System Administrator and Engineer. Focused on Data Center Solutions: Virtualization/Cloud Computing and Storage/Backup Systems. Currently living in Poland.