Replace a Dead Host

If you need to replace a dead host, you must remove the host from the physical rack. You can then add a new host or replace the failed component on the host and add it back.

This procedure applies chiefly to the following components:

• Storage controllers
• Motherboards
• Boot disks

Prerequisites

If the host belongs to a workload domain, verify that there are at least 4 hosts in the management or workload domain to which the faulty host belongs. If there are less than 4 hosts, add a host to the domain from the capacity pool if possible.

Procedure

1. Decommission the host.
   See Decommission Hosts.
2. Power off the host and remove it from the physical rack.
3. Replace and reconfigure, as follows.
   1. Replace the failed component on the host.
   2. Perform a fresh reinstall of ESXi.
   3. Commission the host.
      See Commission Hosts.