Adding an ESXi Host back into a 1000v switch after rebuild

Timothy Graham · ‎01-13-2011

Hi

Is there a doc any where that shows the right way to add a an ESXi host back into a 1000v vDS after it has had to be rebuilt.

We have had to rebuild a ESXi host within a VMware eviroment that has the 1000v switch install. After the rebuild and connecting it back into the management center I then tried to add it back into the vDS but the host is not listed in the 'Add Host to distributed switch' window so can't pick it to add it back in.

I am assuming currently that this is because it already thinks the host is already added to the vDS, but because of the rebuild the VEM module is missing on the Host so can't communicate with it etc via vDS and I can't configure it because VEM is not installed. I have found that if I right click on the Host there is a option to remove the host from the distributed switch, assuming if I did this it would then see it in the add host list thus allowing me add it back in and thus install the VEM back on to the Host.

Any body have any suggestions on the right and wrong way to do this.

Cheer

Tim

lwatta · ‎01-13-2011

Does the host still show up under the "hosts" tab of the distributed virtual switch under the "network" view? If so you should be able to remove host from distributed virtual switch. Then you can add it back.

The other thing to check is to make sure you have an enterprise plus license on the ESXi host. What you describe also happens when the host has no Enterprise Plus license available.

louis

Timothy Graham · ‎01-13-2011

Hi Louis,

Yes I can see it, so tried to remove it but it will not remove it get the following error message

Cannot complete a Distrubuted Virtual Switch operation foe one or more host members. DVS opertion failed on Host <XXX>. The obect or item referred to could not be found. got (vim.fault.NotFound) exception

I have checked the licensing and that has applied OK.

What I have noticed is that when this Host has rebuit the vnic's numbering does not now match the rest of the Host we have in the cluster, the ones on this rebuilt host are numbered 0 to 11 and on the other they are 0 to 5 and 10 to 11 and 14 to 17. So can't apply the host profile I have attached to the other host as it errors out because it can't find the correct vnics.

Sure I can get it working once I have the host back into vDS with VEM loaded on to the host but how do I do that and get the VEM loaded.

Cheer

Tim

sachthak · ‎01-13-2011

One thing to check is to see if the VC and host are in sync.

If the host shows up as added to the DVS from the VC, I'd check to ensure the DVS uuid matches on the host (command is "net-dvs -l | more"). If these are consistent, then all should be well, but considering the host was rebuilt, I suspect this is not the case.

You can remove the host from the VC if it shows up on the VC but is not showing on the host by moving the host to a disconnected VC state and then performing the remove host from DVS operation. Then subsequently re-add the host to the DVS to see if it syncs up to the latest state

Please let me know if I misinterpreted the problem - I was a little confused when you mentioned that you could'nt get the VEM loaded.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Sachin

Timothy Graham · ‎01-17-2011

Hi Sachin,

Thanks for the reply, I fixed it not long before your post as you explained

Here were/are the steps

Go to the host on the VC and disconnect it tfrom the VC
Then go to Inventory > Networking
Click on the vDS, then click ont he host Tab in right hand window
Right click tthe host to be removed form the vDS/1Kv and click Remove Form Distributed Virtual Switch
After host has been removed, then go back to the Inventory > Host and Clusters and reconnect the Host to the VC
After host is visable again go back to the Networking and add the host back to the vDS/1Kv

Cheers

Tim

admin11111 · ‎11-13-2014

i got the similar issue

i upgraded the esx Vmware 4.1 to 5.1 upgraded the VSM first.

then upgraded the VEM module on host. now its was showing out of sync in vcenter.reasonable like uuid changed in vmware after upgrade. now i removed host from 1KV. when i try to re add the host , the host is no longer visible in ADD HOST wizard.

License is place enterprise plus. i tired what is mentioned above

So i was on N1K

4.2.1.SV1 5.2 VSM &VEM upgrade was to 4.2(1)SV2(2.1a)

Please advice regards

Rom

admin11111 · ‎11-13-2014

Hey got this sorted this was vcenter database enteries which need to be added manually

Cisco BUG

https://tools.cisco.com/bugsearch/bug/CSCuc84145

Vmware kb

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2039046