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Scott-P
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iSCSI SAN, two hosts - how to move VMs?

The is a new implementation. I have ESX 3.5 standard and both hosts access the shared storage on the SAN. Somehow I need to remove the VM from inventory of one host and add it to the other. But I don't see the option anywhere. I only have the Inventory button.

Where I was before we had vCenter but not here. Is this the reason? I don't need to do vmotion, just cold migrations.

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khughes
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You need to power down the Virtual Machine, if you right click the virtual machine you should see the option at the bottom near delete from disk. On the host you want to move it from, if you look at the host summary screen (click on the host) and then double click on the LUN of the shared storage. This should bring up a listing of all the folders in that LUN, including NameOfVM which you can open up the folder of that VM and right click on the .VMX file and select add to inventory.

  • Kyle

-- Kyle "RParker wrote: I guess I was wrong, everything CAN be virtualized "

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khughes
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I'm assuming you are connecting directly to the host ESX server?

If you don't have virtual center you don't have the option to migrate machines back and forth. If you want to do this without VC, you'll need to a command line move of the folder/files or use a program like winSCP/fastSCP

  • Kyle

-- Kyle "RParker wrote: I guess I was wrong, everything CAN be virtualized "
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Scott-P
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Yes, connecting directly to ESX host with VI client.

I'd be ok with moving files, but what files need to be moved? They are on shared storage.

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Troy_Clavell
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If you have shared storage, you can still do this while connecting to the individual hosts. Connect to one host, power off the VM, then right click on the VM and choose remove from inventory. Then connect to the other host, browse the datastore, find the VM's folder name, then .vmx file and choose "add to inventory" and follow the prompts.

khughes
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If the same storage is seen on both ESX hosts, then all you need to do is right click it, remove from inventory (DO NOT DELETE FROM DISK) and then login to the other ESX host and add it to the inventory on that host.

  • Kyle

-- Kyle "RParker wrote: I guess I was wrong, everything CAN be virtualized "
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Scott-P
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Yeah, I must be missing something, though. That option is not there. There is no "add to inventory" "remove from inventory" or anything else. If I had this option all would be well. Smiley Wink

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Scott-P
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See reply to Troy, I'm not seeing the "remove from inventory" option.

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Scott-P
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Correction - I DO see "remove from inventory" and can select that. I just don't see a way to add it on the new host.

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khughes
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You need to power down the Virtual Machine, if you right click the virtual machine you should see the option at the bottom near delete from disk. On the host you want to move it from, if you look at the host summary screen (click on the host) and then double click on the LUN of the shared storage. This should bring up a listing of all the folders in that LUN, including NameOfVM which you can open up the folder of that VM and right click on the .VMX file and select add to inventory.

  • Kyle

-- Kyle "RParker wrote: I guess I was wrong, everything CAN be virtualized "
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weinstein5
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from the host you are moving to you will need to use the datastore browser - right click on the shared storage and one of the options will be browse datastore browse to where the vm is stored and right click on the ,vmx file and you should have an option yo Add to Inventory -

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If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer correct or helpful
Scott-P
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Yowsa! That's it! Thank you so much!

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Troy_Clavell
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Nice!! Resolved!

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Scott-P
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Thanks! Very helpful. I appreciate your time and help.

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Troy_Clavell
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don't forget you have two "helpfuls" left... Smiley Happy

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Scott-P
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Yes, you answered it correctly first upon my second reading. My apologies.

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Troy_Clavell
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now worries!! Thanks for the helpful. I'm just trying to beat Kyle and David for the top 5 posters of the week! Smiley Happy

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Scott-P
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My experience with these boards in the past have always been remarkable.

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khughes
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now worries!! Thanks for the helpful. I'm just trying to beat Kyle and David for the top 5 posters of the week! Smiley Happy

Sorry Troy, you're not going to beat me after the past couple days I've had Smiley Wink

  • Kyle

-- Kyle "RParker wrote: I guess I was wrong, everything CAN be virtualized "
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weinstein5
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See Kyle - I have to respond now too! :smileycool:

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