6.0.1

Remove Virtual Machines from the Datastore
If you no longer need a virtual machine and want to free up space on the datastore, you can remove the
virtual machine from vCenter Server and delete all virtual machine files from the datastore, including the
configuration file and virtual disk files.
Prerequisites
n
Power off the virtual machine.
n
Ensure that another virtual machine is not sharing the disk. If two virtual machines are sharing the
same disk, the disk files are not deleted.
Procedure
1 Right-click the virtual machine and select All vCenter Actions > Delete from Disk.
2 Click OK.
vCenter Server deletes the virtual machine from its datastore. Disks that are shared with other virtual
machines are not deleted.
Register a Virtual Machine with vCenter Server
If you removed a virtual machine from vCenter Server but did not remove it from the managed host's
datastore, you can return it to the vCenter Server inventory by registering it with the vCenter Server.
Procedure
1 In the vSphere Web Client inventory, right-click the datastore on which the virtual machine
configuration file is stored and select All vCenter Actions > Register VM.
2 Browse to and select the virtual machine configuration (.vmx) file and click OK.
3 Use the existing virtual machine name or type a new name, and select a datacenter or folder location for
the virtual machine.
4 Click Next.
5 Select a host or cluster on which to run the new virtual machine.
Option Action
Run the virtual machine on a
standalone host.
Select the host and click Next.
Run the virtual machine in a cluster
with DRS automatic placement.
Select the cluster and click Next.
Run the virtual machine in a cluster
without DRS automatic placement.
a Select the cluster and click Next.
b Select a host within the cluster and click Next.
6 Select a resource pool in which to run the virtual machine and click Next.
7 Review your selections and click Finish.
The virtual machine is added to the vCenter Server inventory.
vSphere Virtual Machine Administration
190 VMware, Inc.