Deleting KMIP for VMware instances

End of Marketing: As of 31 October 2025, new deployments of VMware Solutions offerings are no longer available for new customers. Existing customers can still use and expand their active VMware® workloads on IBM Cloud®. For more information, see End of Marketing for VMware on IBM Cloud.

Key Management Interoperability Protocol (KMIP™) for VMware® offering support will end on 31 December 2026, after which the KMIP for VMware service will no longer work. Migrate to IBM® Key Protect for IBM Cloud®.

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

Before you begin

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

  1. In the VMware Solutions console, click Resources > KMIP for VMware from the left navigation panel.

  2. In the KMIP for VMware table, find the instance to delete.

  3. In the Actions column, click the Delete icon Delete icon.

  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.