How to migrate vms from one data center to another

[knfitz22]

I have two VMware environments at two different data centers in different states. I want to migrate some of the VMs from one data center to another. I've heard you can storage vmotion across data centers with the VMware bridge option or by failing over with vsphere replication. What is the safest and best way to migrate VMs across data centers? Do I need to buy some kind of VMware option?

[abhilashhb]

vSphere replication can't do a vmotion across sites. It replicates the VM to another site and cold boots the machine. Maybe while testing or actual disaster recovery.

vSphere Replication does not have a separate license. You can use vSphere Replication if you have an edition of vSphere that includes the vSphere Replication license.

■	vSphere Essentials Plus
■	vSphere Standard
■	vSphere Enterprise
■	vSphere Enterprise Plus

If you have the correct vSphere license, there is no limit on the number of virtual machines that you can replicate by using vSphere Replication.

[knfitz22]

Is there a way to do a storage vmotion across data centers in VMware?

Is vsphere the same as vcenter?

How do I confirm what edition I have?

[abhilashhb]

If you go to your vcenter and click on a host. Then go to configuration---> licensed features you'll know what license you have and Vsphere replication will be listed there if you have any of the above license.

Vsphere is the complete set of datacenter virtualization. It includes esxi and vcenter and many other products.

[knfitz22]

awesome, that just leaves two questions. How do I setup vsphere replication and is there a way to migrate VMs across datacenters whether it's live or not and how do I set that up?

[knfitz22]

REading this KB article it says I have to have SRM for vsphere replication? Does that come with these editions also?

VMware KB: vSphere Replication FAQ

[vMarkusK1985]

I had the same Problem and created a PowerCLI Script to do that offline but fast for me.

http://mycloudrevolution.com/2016/04/20/script-vsphere-vm-zwischen-datacenter-verlagern/

[mythink_cp]

Have the same issue I found a work around and the is to cheat.

First off lest clarify the environment.

- All my datacenters / ESX host use the same storage

- All my datacenters are under the same vcenter

Issue unabe to migrate a VM out off existing data center.

- Right click VM Migrate only get host option in the datacenter

- Drag and drop the host to esx host in another data center doesn't work

work around drag the esx host out of the target datacenter to source datacenter (i.e. the one hosting the VM you wish to migrate)

then migrate your VM to the ESX Host

Then move the ESX host back to it's original Datacenter.

The other alternative for me would have been shutdown the VM, Remove the VM from Inventory. Then from the Target host browse the Datastore. Import the VM. Then start the VM.

I hope this helps.