Changing the Service Console IP address on ESX 3.x and 4.0

ref: http://communities.vmware.com/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadBody/11927-102-3-11792/ChgIP.rtf

Log in as root to the ESX host console using a SSH or KVM connection.

1. Run the following command to stop the network service:

service network stop

2. Run the esxcfg-vswif command to change the IP of the hosts:

esxcfg-vswif -i NEW_IP_ADDRESS -n MASK_ADDRESS vswif0

3. Edit the /etc/sysconfig/network file and change the gateway IP if needed.

4. Run the following Command to restart the network

      service network start

5. Add the host back to VirtualCenter using a FQDN (preferably) or by its IP/Reconnect host to VirtualCenter (if applicable).

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