Shutdown vcenter while keeping VMs running?

[mbogieman]

Hi,

i am planning a upgrade of our physical vcenter 4.0 server running on win2008 32 bits to a 64 bits installation on the same hardware. I've read through the various 4.0 to 4.1 migration docs, and it is clear to me how to migrate.

But what I cannot find out: can I have leave vcenter shut down for some hours whilst keeping all the vms running? I want to use the same hardware; that is why the server will be unavailble for 1-2 hours.

If this is possible: should I disconnect my current esxi hosts first or is that not necesssary? WIll they stay licensed?

Any help appreciated,

BR,

Mark

[FranckRookie]

Hi Mark,

You don't need vCenter to be up for the VM to run. Some feature will not function like FT or DRS, but as long as the ESXs run, the VM will stay online. No need to disconnect the hosts, they will keep their licensing information.

Good luck.

Regards

Franck

[vmware0]

Also , if you want to manage any VM during your v-centre server down, you could directly login to the ESX host using v-centre client to do some of the management.

Prabs.

[schepp]

ESX(i) hosts will keep working with the licensed functions (without DRS/FT) when the license Server (vCenter) is unavailable, for 14 Days.

Regards

[mbogieman]

Thanks guys. I was already expecting this, but needed confrmation. Will start new install (with rescue image on the shelf :smileywink:

Regards,

Mark