Migrate VM between 2 separate FARMS

[nelmangle]

All,

I am needing to move a VM between 2 separate ESX host clusters and wanted to understand;

1. What Files do i need to move/copy from the VM folder on the Datastore ?

2. How do I import the move VM into the new ESX Cluster ?

3. Any gotchas?

Thanks in advance

Nels

[AntonVZhbankov]

You can use VMware Converter to export / import VM.

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VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[nelmangle]

Thanks.. but the 2 farms are discrete and i need to deal with this as a File transfer activity firstly and then import into the new Farm

[AntonVZhbankov]

You can export VM from ESX to your desktop, then transfer files any way you like, and import the same way.

---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[nelmangle]

OK, so you mean export as a Standalone Virtual Machine (workstation 6) and then import ?

can i just copy all the files associated with the VM for its Host Directory and then import from with VC?

[AntonVZhbankov]

Converter is a safer way.

---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[anujmodi1]

Use the Winscp sw to copy the VM from one datastore to another datastore and then register the VM with another host server. Even you can use the VM converter to transfer the VM from one datastore on another datastore in 2 separate famrs.

AM,

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The latest blogs and articles on Virtulization:

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[nelmangle]

AM,

Ok, what files for i need to Copy across ? and how do i register the VM in the new Host ?

TIA Nels

[anujmodi1]

If the VM is powered off then only need vmdk, vmx and nvram files. Then you can register with vmx file on the other host server.

Anuj Modi,

If you found my answer to be useful, feel free to mark it as Helpful or Correct.

The latest blogs and articles on Virtulization:

http://communities.vmware.com/blogs/amodi

[AntonVZhbankov]

Use Veeam FastSCP (free tool) to download entire directory with VM. Less chances you forget some file.

---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[lreesey-old]

Any reason you can't cold migrate the vm to the other cluster? As long as the VM is off and both clusters are in vCenter I would think it would be the easiest method.

[savantsingh]

If you donot want to make any specific changes to your VM then dont use convertor.

Copy the whole directory which contains the VM to a location from where you can upload it to the new clusters storage, you could easily do that with WinScp or any other tool.

Browse to the directory on your new clusters storage>> right click on the vmx file >> select add to inventory.

I dont know your environment but if you could temprorarily present the source cluster's storage to the new cluster you could do a svmotion without any downtime.

Thanks