migration error in vsphere 5.1

[Sree85]

Hi

I am trying to migrate a vm from one host to another host, I am getting an error message. error : "unable to access the virtual machine configuration. unable to access file. ".

VM stored in local storage and it is in powered off state.

Could you help me in this,

[rcporto]

If VM are not in shared storage and Powered Off, you will need combining vMotion and Storage vMotion into a single operation.

You can do this Online too using Enhanced vMotion through vSphere Web Client.

[Sree85]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

My question, is it possible to migrate powered off vm to another host ?

Two hosts are in single data center. I have not configured the cluster. I just added the hosts to datacenter.

Then, I created a test vm on one host.

Now, I am trying to migrate the vm to another host.

but getting error message...

[a_p_]

Did you select "Change both host and datastore" in the migration wizard?

Also make sure the VM doesn't have e.g. an ISO image connected to its virtual CD-ROM drive.

André

[bayupw]

Hi

My question, is it possible to migrate powered off vm to another host ?

Yes it is possible to migrate a powered off vm from one host to another host (cold migration), if you want to migrate with powered on VM (vMotion) you must meet the vMotion requirements.

Do you have a vCenter configured?
Are you using vSphere Client or vSphere Web Client?

You can perform migration from vSphere Client and vSphere Web Client.

You can choose to migrate from one host to another host (vMotion), from one datastore to another datastore (Storage vMotion), and you can do both at the same time.

To do both at the same time via vSphere Client, you will need the VM to be powered off (Cold Migration).

But you can do both at same time with powered on VM via vSphere Web Client Migration with vMotion in Environments Without Shared Storage

See the vSphere Documentation for more explanations:

VMware vSphere 5.1 - Migrating Virtual Machines in the vSphere Client

VMware vSphere 5.1 - Migrating Virtual Machines in the vSphere Web Client

Here's some screenshot for your references

Powered On Migration via vSphere Client

Powered Off Migration via vSphere Client

[Sree85]

Hi,

Yes, I configured vcenter server for managing the hosts. and I am using vsphere client to migrate the vms.

I am selecting the change host option only. I am not selecting the change host and datastore. However, I am able to migrate a vm, when I select the change host and datastore option.

Only issue is, unable to migrate vm, with the change host or change datastore option.

Need help.

[ch1ta]

As an additional option, you can try some third party tool that is capable of moving VMs between hosts, datastores or both (like Veeam Free with Quick Migration functionality or similar) and see whether it makes any difference. Cheers.

[a_p_]

>>> Only issue is, unable to migrate vm, with the change host or change datastore option.

Only changing host and datastore will work for local storage. Since one host cannot access the the host's datastore this is required to keep the VM and its files together.

André