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 Registering and Unregistering Virtual Machines

Registering and Unregistering Virtual Machines

ESX Server requires that each virtual machine's configuration file be registered before it can be accessed by VMware Remote Consoles and the VMware Management Interface. When you create a new configuration file with the management interface, whether for a new or an existing virtual machine, the configuration file is registered automatically with ESX Server.

You can have up to 80 registered virtual machines on a server at one time. If you intend to run more than 60, you must modify some service console settings. See Running Many Virtual Machines on ESX Server.

When you register a virtual machine, it appears in the management interface and the Connect to VMware Virtual Machine dialog box that appears when you connect to the virtual machine with the remote console.

If you are using a virtual machine that you migrated from another server or VMware product, you must register the configuration file as described below. For more information about migrating virtual disks and virtual machines, see Importing, Upgrading and Exporting Virtual Machines.

If you do not have a current need for a virtual machine, you can unregister it instead. This is useful if you have more than 80 virtual machines on the server and do not want to delete any excess virtual machines. An unregistered virtual machine no longer appears in the management interface and cannot be connected to by a remote console.

You must have full permissions to the virtual machine's configuration file (.vmx) in order to register or unregister it.

Registering a Virtual Machine

Registering a Virtual Machine

Virtual machines created on the server are automatically registered. If you imported a virtual machine from another server or from another VMware product, or if you previously unregistered a virtual machine, you can register it by completing the following steps.

  1. Log into the management interface as the user with full permissions to the virtual machine's configuration file.

Note: Only the root user can register and unregister virtual machines through the management interface. However, regular users can register and unregister virtual machines by using the scripting API.

  1. On the Status Monitor page, click Manage Files. The file manager appears.
  2. Browse to the directory containing the configuration file (the file with the .vmx extension) and click the configuration file icon. The Virtual Machine Registration Status window appears, indicating the virtual machine is not registered.

  3. Click the register link in the window. The window indicates the virtual machine is registered.

  4. Click Close Window. The virtual machine appears on the Status Monitor page and you can connect to it with a remote console.
Unregistering a Virtual Machine

Unregistering a Virtual Machine

To unregister a virtual machine, complete the following steps.

  1. Log into the management interface as the user with full permissions to the virtual machine's configuration file.
  2. On the Status Monitor page, on the row for the virtual machine, click the arrow to the right of the terminal icon ( ). The virtual machine menu appears.
  3. Click Unregister Virtual Machine. The virtual machine no longer appears on the Status Monitor page and cannot be remotely managed.

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