---
name: vmwaresolutions-kmip_standalone_deleting
title: Deleting KMIP for VMware instances
description: As of 17 July 2025, new automated installations of Red Hat® OpenShift® for VMware® are no longer available for new or existing deployments of VMware Cloud Foundation for Classic - Automated instances. You can still use or delete your existing Red Hat OpenShift for VMware automated installations until 16 July 2026. The service will no longer be available from 17 July 2026.
last-updated: 2026-03-05
---

> ## Documentation Index
> The table of contents for this documentation set is at https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/vmwaresolutions?format=markdown
> The index for all IBM Cloud docs is at: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use these files to discover more information as needed.

# Deleting KMIP for VMware instances
{: #kmip_standalone_deleting}

As of 17 July 2025, new automated installations of Red Hat® OpenShift® for VMware® are no longer available for new or existing deployments of VMware Cloud Foundation for Classic - Automated instances. You can still use or delete your existing Red Hat OpenShift for VMware automated installations until 16 July 2026. The service will no longer be available from 17 July 2026.
{: deprecated}

**End of Marketing**: As of 17 July 2025, new deployments of VMware Regulated Workloads instances are no longer available for new customers. If you are an existing customer, you can still add or delete clusters, add or delete VMware ESXi™ servers or NFS storage, and add or remove services for your existing Regulated Workloads instances. As an existing customer, you can also view or delete your Regulated Workloads instances.
{: note}

Use this procedure to delete the KMIP™ for VMware® instances that you ordered for stand-alone use.

## Before you begin
{: #kmip_standalone_deleting-req}

You must remove encryption and configuration in the following sequence:
1. Decrypt all virtual machines or vSAN™ datastores that are protected by this KMIP for VMware instance, or rekey these resources by using a new Key Management Server (KMS).
2. Disable host encryption mode for your VMware Cloud Foundation for Classic - Flexible instance, or rekey your hosts by using a new KMS.
3. Remove the KMS configuration for all VMware Cloud Foundation for Classic - Automated instances that are connected to this KMIP for VMware instance.
4. Remove the KMIP for VMware instance.
5. In your Key Protect or Hyper Protect Crypto Services (HPCS) instance, remove all standard keys that were in use by this KMIP for VMware instance.
6. (Optional) In your Key Protect or HPCS service instance, ensure that no other users are using the root key (CRK) that you are planning to remove. Then, remove the customer CRK that was in use by this KMIP for VMware instance.
7. (Optional) Ensure that no other users are using the Key Protect or HPCS service instance, then remove the Key Protect or HPCS service instance that was in use by this KMIP for VMware instance.

## Procedure to delete KMIP for VMware instances
{: #kmip_standalone_deleting-procedure}

1. For more information about end of life procedures for IBM Cloud infrastructure services and third-party software products, see [Lifecycle policy for IBM Cloud products](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/overview?topic=overview-services_availability&format=markdown). If you have any questions or need assistance, send an email to clouddigitalsales@us.ibm.com, or [open a support ticket](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/vmwaresolutions?topic=vmwaresolutions-trbl_support&format=markdown) in the VMware Solutions console.
2. In the **KMIP for VMware** table, find the instance to delete.
3. In the **Actions** column, click the **Delete** icon ![Delete icon](../../icons/delete.svg "Delete").
4. In the **Delete instance** window, click **OK**.

   The status of the instance is changed to **Removing**. When the instance deletion is completed, the instance is no longer available in the **KMIP for VMware** table.

## Related links
{: #kmip_standalone_deleting-related}

* [Ordering KMIP for VMware instances](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/vmwaresolutions?topic=vmwaresolutions-kmip_standalone_ordering&format=markdown)
* [Adding, viewing, and deleting certificates for KMIP for VMware instances](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/vmwaresolutions?topic=vmwaresolutions-kmip_standalone_addingdeletingcert&format=markdown)
* [Viewing KMIP for VMware instances](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/vmwaresolutions?topic=vmwaresolutions-kmip_standalone_viewing&format=markdown)
* [KMIP for VMware solution architecture](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/vmwaresolutions?topic=vmwaresolutions-kmip-overview&format=markdown)
* [Activity tracking events for VMware Solutions](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/vmwaresolutions?topic=vmwaresolutions-at_events&format=markdown)