Moving a VM from one ESXi 5.1 to another ESXi 5.5

[unrealone001]

Hi all,

I have one ESXi 5.1 server with 1x VM running on it, I am decommissioning the hardware.

I have my new ESXI 5.5 running on new hardware, I was going to install VMware converter on to the old VM running on the old ESXi and move the VM to the new ESXi, is this best way to move the vm please?

[admin]

Hello,

is that ESXi 5.1 on the same sub net.? if so you can add both the Host to the vCenter server and do a vMotion. else using the vMware converter would be the best option.

Thanks,
Avinash

[unrealone001]

Yes on the same subnet.

Old ESXi is 192.168.5.2

New ESXi is 192.168.5.3

[admin]

Then you could add both the Hosts and do a vMotion from old ESXi to new ESXi5.5.. if you do not have a vCenter server deploy a vCenter appliance on one of the Host - Give a static IP. and Mograte the VM.

Thanks,

Avinash

[abhilashhb]

Do you have a vCenter? If you don't then you will have to use the Converter to move the machine from one host to another.

If you can have downtime for the VM you could always export the VM and import it on new ESXi or you could make the storage that is seen by ESXi 5.1 available to ESXi 5.5 and power on the machine on 5.5 host.

Do consider awarding points by choosing correct answer

[TheExpert]

Another possibility is to install ProFTPd as FTP server on both servers to get a significant better transfer performance than with the converter. You can use a FTP client software on a second VM or a physical system. Or you use the ncpftp client (must be downloaded and copied to ESXi but does not need an installation) on one ESXi host to connect to the other (then you only need one ProFTPd installation ).

One question: Is it possible to move the VM with the converter on which the converter is running?

[unrealone001]

Many thanks for your replies, I am probably going to go with vm converter as I am familiar with that.

One question, the vm I am moving is running SQL, is there anything I need to consider?

[abhilashhb]

If the source is Microsoft Exchange, SQL, or other database server, VMware recommends that the application (Microsoft Exchange/SQL) and database services be shut down prior to conversion. This minimizes any chance of corrupted database tables or stale data in the destination virtual machine.

Here's a guide of best practices for vmware converter VMware KB: Best practices for using and troubleshooting VMware Converter

Do consider awarding points by choosing correct answer

[a_p_]

Personally, I wouldn't want to live convert a database server, at least not with the database service up and running. What you may do is to convert the VM while powered off, to ensure data integrity. If you also want to preserve the MAC address and network settings, you could - after converting the VM - remove the VM from the new host's inventory, copy the VM's .vmx and .vmxf files over from the old host and then register the VM again to the inventory by right clicking the .vmx file. When powering on the VM for the first time, answer the question whether you copied or moved the VM with "I moved it" to preserve the settings.

André

[Gortee]

Many thanks for your replies, I am probably going to go with vm converter as I am familiar with that.

One question, the vm I am moving is running SQL, is there anything I need to consider?

One option no one has mentioned is share the storage.  If you can share the storage between the hosts you can just power it off on the old and power it on on the new.  Then if you need to move it off that storage just storage vmotion it off.   I do lots of migrations like this zero bad effects.

[abhilashhb]

Have u read my reply?

[Gortee]

Abhilash,

I just re-read your first message and I missed the suggestion to share storage sorry to be redundant. 

Thanks,

J

[hkito]

Both ESXi on same subnet, but only ESXi 5.1 are connected to vCenter but ESXi 6.0 is standalone.

Thus, vmotion is unavailable to apply.

VMware converter should be used ??

Thanks

[vHaridas]

If VMs size is smaller You can export VM as ovf from ESXi 5.1 and import it in ESXi 6.0, For larger size VM, use VMware Converter and do V2V migration from ESXi 5.1 to ESXi 6.

Thanks,

Haridas

Virtual Admin