If you have worked with VxRail as long as I have then you know it is inevitable to relocate a host from one cluster to another to support other projects. Also, it is likely you’ve had a couple hosts laying around in the datacenter awaiting install. I thought I would put together this quick how to configure the VxRail host to be discovered via VxRail Manager and add the host via vCenter.
In case you need to also know how to remove a host from a cluster please see my other blog article:
The How To Process
First log into the iDRAC and Power on System if it isn’t already
Click OK
Launch Virtual Console
Be patient and wait for boot
F2 to configure
Root/Passw0rd!
First go to Configure Mangement Network
IPv4 Configuration
Confirmed Disable IPv4 configuration for management network
Now select VLAN (optional)
Enter the VLAN for your ESXi Management Network
Click <Esc> to Exit
Click <Y> Yes
You should see now the host has a IPv4 IP randomly generated
Scroll down to Troubleshooting Options and enter
Enable ESXi Shell and Enable SSH then Esx to exit
Return to the main screen and Alt-F1 to open a virtual console window to the host
Log in as Root
![Machine generated alternative text:
File
View
Macros
Tcn)ls
-15619
-15619•.-]
Power
Next
Virtual Media
Help
date
Mon May 11 UTC 2020
dalpIdvxrmgt02 : /home/myscic #
[rootßnode
non mag 11
[rootßnode
date
UTC 2020](https://i1.wp.com/digitalthoughtdisruption.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/InkedInked19_LI.jpg?fit=810%2C147&ssl=1)
Enter the date command to get the current date & time of the host and compare it against the VxRail Manager date & time to confirm they are close in time.
****If not then please see my blog on changing the time on a ESXI host
![Machine generated alternative text:
[rcjot@node-15613 esxcl i
Nane
Management Network
Pr ivate management Network
Pr ivate VM Network
V" Network
iDRAC Network
[rcn)tßnode-15619:—] esxcl i
[rootßnode-15613:—] esxcl i
netuork vsu itch
Virtual Sta itch
vSuitchO
vSu i tch0
vSu i tchß
vsuitchß
standard portgroup
Act ive Cl ients
I ist
VLAH
1
1
1
1
1
ID
55
vSu i tch i DRACvusb
network itch standard portgroup
network vsta itch standard portgroup
3933
set —p 'Management Network" -v 55
set -p Network" -v 55
[rootßnode-15619:-•] [etc/ init .d/ loudmouth restart
watchdog—loudmouth: Tern inat ing watchdog with PID 2104863
recei'v'ing message of length 55
Sent :
b'quit'
Received: 2ff), "message": "Term inated.", "result"
Loudmouth successful lg stopped .
Loudmouth started .
Register ing MARVIN serv ice.
L istening for _vmuare ._tcp services.](https://i0.wp.com/digitalthoughtdisruption.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/InkedInked20_LI.jpg?resize=810%2C340&ssl=1)
Double check the Management VLAN that your other VxRail Hosts are located on.
#esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup list
#esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup set -p “Management Network” -v <Your_VLAN_ID>
#esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup set -p “VM Network” -v <Your_VLAN_ID>
#/etc/init.d/loudmouth restart
Finally, log into vCenter and go to Host & Clusters > Cluster > Configure > VxRail > Add VxRail Hosts > ADD HOST
**be patient – can take up to 5 minutes for VxRail Manager to discover the new host
Click Add host
Select the host you want to add.
Now enter your username/password
Next you will need to put the next IP in your original reserved pool for ESXi Management, vMotion, and vSAN.
Next comes entering your different credentials for your environment.
You can choose whether or not to put host in maintenance mode
The good old summary and validate page.
Summary:
As you can see there are a lot of working parts here but it is well worth it. I hope I made this easy to follow. As always, I hope y’all found this helpful.