Changing VCenter hostname or FQDN

[Alex Billings]

I am preparing to migrate our Windows VCenter 6.0 install to a 6.5 VSA.  Prior to doing this, I would like to change the hostname and/or FQDN of the VCenter Server, so it matches its new location. 

Is there a way to change either the entire hostname of the sysyem or, in a worst case change it from vcenter.apples.com to vcenter.oranges.com?

[doublefree]

You may want to take a look at the following kb articles.

Can I change the Hostname or IP Address of my vCenter Server during or after migration?

You cannot change the Hostname (FQDN), also referred to as Primary Network Identifier (PNID) before or after migration. You can however, change the IP Address if you are using FQDN by updating your DNS records and then updating the IP Address of your vCenter Server using the Virtual Appliance Management Interface (VAMI) located at https://vcenter_server:5480.

FAQ: Migrating vCenter Server 5.5 to vCenter Server Appliance 6.0 U2m (2146439) | VMware KB

Cannot change the vCenter Server or Platform Service Controller 6.x hostname (2130599) | VMware KB

[Alex Billings]

Is it even possible to move the Windows server from one domain to another?

[doublefree]

If you mean by domain change i.e. vcenter.apples.com to vcenter.oranges.com? Unfortunately you cannot change this if the vCenter was deployed with FQDN i.e vcenter.apples.com as the PNID (Primary Network Identifier).

[wingnuts1979]

I assume you both are talking about a vCenter windows box right. What if you have a vCenter 6.x appliance? Can you change the FQDN then?

[LittleNickey]

wingnuts1979 no, as stated in KB2130599, which doublefree​ linked, this relates to both Windows and VCSA server 6.0 and 6.5.

[Meerenpoort930]

You could try this: Virtualvmx: Changing the FQDN of the vCenter appliance (VCSA)

Though definitely not supported by VMware!

[Kent Calero]

Thank you! you saved the day, this came up during a vcenter upgrade and the official documentation calls to change the fqdn through vami, which is not accessible during upgrade phase 2!!

This worked perfectly, no issues

[Vijay2027]

If your PNID is hostname/FQDN you will not be able to change hostname/FQDN.

Run this command to check pnid:

/usr/lib/vmware-vmafd/bin/vmafd-cli get-pnid --server-name localhost

If the above command returns IP address you can change hostname/FQDN but not IP address.

[Barry Gerhardt]

Since this is a common question, I wanted to highlight that as of vCenter 6.7u3, changing your FQDN (aka PNID) is now supported.

Read about it here: Changing your vCenter Server's FQDN - VMware vSphere Blog