How to repoint vCenter Server 6.0 to a new External Platform Services Controller (PSC)?

By | August 30, 2015

Sometimes it would be necessary to repoint vCenter Server 6 Appliance or installed on Windows to a new external PSC. For example, some days ago I wrote a post how to configure a highly available Platform Controller Services. so it would be very useful to repoint vCenter to use Load Balancer Virtual Name. Fortunately, it is possible to repoint vCenter to a new External Platform Services (PSC) with the following steps:

vCenter  Server Appliance 6.0

You need to log into the vCenter Server appliance as root and run the following command:

/usr/lib/vmware-vmafd/bin/vmafd-cli set-dc-name --server-name localhost --dc-name <FQDN_of_PSC_or_Load_Balancer>

vCenter Server Windows 6.0

You need to log into the vCenter Server Windows Machine as Administrator and run the following command:

C:\Program Files\VMware\vCenter Server\vmafdd\vmafd-cli set-dc-name --server-name localhost --dc-name <FQDN_of_PSC_or_Load_Balancer>

After running the above command, please restart VC services:

service-control --stop --all
service-control --start --all

Note:  Repointing VC from one PSC to another is only supported within the same SSO domain. There is not supported to repoint from an embedded to an external Platform Services Controller - you can only change it with a fresh install of vCenter. For more information please follow here.

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.