Move Virtual Server

[robbyburmeister]

We have two ESX 3.0.1 Servers that boot from local drives. These are blade servers that are also connected a SAN. Most of our virutal servers reside on LUNs presented to the ESX Server. I have two virtual servers that were setup on the blades local drives and I would like to move them to the SAN. What is the best way to accomplish this? We do not have Virtual Center or Vmotion.

[Troy_Clavell]

you could shutdown the VMs in question and do a cold migration by right clicking and choose migrate.

[robbyburmeister]

Would that allow me to move the virtual server from one ESX server to another or only within that ESX server?

[Troy_Clavell]

yes, that will allow you to move the entire VM off it's current host to the new host.

[mvoss18]

Log into the host directly using the VI Client (root account). Shut down the VM and Remove it from inventory. Browse to the datastore where the VM files reside. Right-click on the folder containing the VM files and select Move To... then select your target datastore. Once the move is completed, go to the VMX file in the VM folder and right-click to add it to inventory. You may have to answer a question about the VM being moved, and then it will power on. I just tried this method and it worked.

Troy: Since he is without VC, there is no Migrate option. Chime in if I am mistaken.

[robbyburmeister]

When I shutdown the VM and right click on it I don't see an option to migrate.

[Troy_Clavell · Accepted solution]

my apologies, it's still early here and I didn't read you original post correctly. You don't have vCenter so you can't use the migrate option.

For your situation, in my opinion VMware vCenter Converter Standalone would be your best option.

again, sorry for the confusion.

[mvoss18]

See my previous post.

[robbyburmeister]

Should I browse to the datastore in Virtual Infrastructure client? I have removed the Virtual Server from inventory, but when I browse the folder in the datastore I do not see a copy to option.

[mvoss18]

Right-click on the folder that contains the VM files and there is a Move To... option

[mvoss18]

You can also do a Copy on the folder with the VM files, then browse to the target data store and do a Paste.

[robbyburmeister]

I've attached a picture of where I am at in VIC. When I right click on the dorner folder I don't get any options.

[mvoss18]

Click on the root of the datastore '/' then right-click on the folder name in the right pane.

[robbyburmeister]

The only option I get then is "delete from disk".

[mvoss18]

I'm using 3.5 U4 with the client (147633) and I have the option to do a Move To... What version of the client are you using?

[mvoss18]

I've attached a screenshot of what I see.

[robbyburmeister]

We are running 3.0.1. Doing some work before upgrading to 3.5 U4

[robbyburmeister]

Thanks. Maybe that is a feature of 3.5. I just used vConverter to move the VM to my other ESX server. Worked pretty well.