We are preparing to decommission an existing ESXi cluster so we can rebuild it on AHV using Foundation.
Referencing this guide as the procedure: https://portal.nutanix.com/kb/22284
I have some questions about the process.
Step 4 lists "Shut down or migrate all user Virtual Machines (Guest VMs) running on the ESXi hosts. Ensure the only powered-on VMs remaining on the hosts are the Nutanix Controller VMs (CVMs)." Makes sense.
Step 5 and Step 6 are stopping the cluster and destroying the cluster. I'm still with you. Step 7 is to power off all CVMs. Sounds good.
Then the guide loses me.
Step 8: With all VMs (including CVMs) powered off, place the ESXi hosts into Maintenance Mode. From the vSphere Web Client, right-click each host and select Maintenance Mode > Enter Maintenance Mode.
Step 9: Disconnect the hosts and remove them from the vCenter inventory. In the vSphere Web Client, right-click the ESXi host and select Disconnect. Once disconnected, right-click the host again and select Remove from Inventory. The ESXi hosts are now fully decoupled from vCenter and Nutanix management, completing the decommission process.
Step 8 and Step 9 seem like they will be difficult to perform after following the preceding steps.
The vSphere web client is reliant on the vCenter Server Appliance being in place and running. But that VM, not being a Controller VM, would have been shut off in Step 4.
Am I missing something here? I can access the ESXi hosts directly to place them in maintenance mode. But without the VCSA, I don't understand how I am going to remove them from the vCenter inventory.
