ESX Server requires that each virtual machine's configuration file be registered before it can be accessed by VMware Remote Consoles and the VMware Management Interface. When you create a new configuration file with the management interface, whether for a new or an existing virtual machine, the configuration file is registered automatically with ESX Server.
You can have up to 80 registered virtual machines on a server at one time. If you intend to run more than 60, you must modify some service console settings. See www.vmware.com/support/esx2/doc/esx20admin_register_vms_running.html.
When you register a virtual machine, it appears in the management interface and the Connect to VMware Virtual Machine dialog box that appears when you connect to the virtual machine with the remote console.
If you are using a virtual machine that you migrated from another server or VMware product, you must register the configuration file as described below.
If you do not have a current need for a virtual machine, you can unregister it instead. This is useful if you have more than 80 virtual machines on the server and do not want to delete any excess virtual machines. An unregistered virtual machine no longer appears in the management interface and cannot be connected to by a remote console.
You must have full permissions to the virtual machine's configuration file (.vmx) in order to register or unregister it.
Virtual machines created on the server are automatically registered. If you imported a virtual machine from another server or from another VMware product, or if you previously unregistered a virtual machine, you can register it by completing the following steps.
To unregister a virtual machine, complete the following steps.