Migrate 5.1 host to 6.5 cluster

[enricop]

Hi, I need to migrate an existing single/stand alone ESXi server (with 9 VMs) to a new 2 nodes cluster that I'm going to setup soon.

The old host is running VMware ESXi 5.1 U3, the new cluster will use VMware ESXi 6.5 U2.

Please note that I'm planning to move to the new cluster with all the VMs down,

I do not need (nor want!) to migrate any live system.

A full weekend downtime is not an issue and hopefully enough.

The old system has only local storage, the new cluster has a SAN, of course the two systems are connected via network.

I also have in place Veeam Backup & Replication (Enterprise), but licensed only for 2 hosts (was 1 host, upgraded to 2 hosts for the new cluster).

What is the best/suggested/easier way to migrate the VMs to the new cluster?

Thank you in advance.

Enrico

[daphnissov]

If you have Veeam, probably the easiest way is to do a Quick Migrate from your 5.1 host to one of the two new 6.5 hosts. Since both of those hosts are using shared storage, you could choose which host on which you wish to register the VM after it is complete (or vMotion depending on your vSphere license).

[SumanHomedepot]

Hello Enrico,

Since your old host has local storage that means all VMs are local.

In this case i would suggest:

1. Go ahead with V2V migration of all VMs to new cluster and then update the ESXi host.

Hoping this method works for you.

[a_p_ · Accepted solution]

A nice option that I've used in the past, is to copy the VMs directly from host to host using the ovftool.

See https://www.virtuallyghetto.com/2012/06/how-to-copy-vms-directly-between-esxi.html for details.

André

[enricop]

Thank you so much for your prompt and valuable answers, they are all good options.

I think that in my case the easiest way is to user ovftool to "just copy" the VMs.

Using ovftool I can test the copy before final switch, and this makes me more confortable.

If any issue will arise, as second option I can use Veeam, my concern is that I only have a 2 host license, but maybe I can connect Veeam to the old host and only one cluster node.

I'm not sure I can use vCenter because I think vCenter 6.5 does not support ESXi 5.1.

Enrico

[enricop]

HI,

after some testing I found that ovftool is not performing very well (at least in my environment), so I found a similar approach using Veaam "VM Copy" feature that essentially provide the same functionality (copy VMs from one host to another) but is definitely faster than ovftool.

Thanyk oyu for all your suggestion.

ENrico