Move VMs across clusters with the same vCenter without EVC

[bl1nd3d]

Hello,

we're currently running two ESX clusters with vCenter

5.5 (5 hosts) - EVC deactivated - Ivy Bridge CPU  - 1 Cluster

6.5 (2 hosts) - EVC deactivated - Broadwell CPU  - 1 Cluster

As we're running out of RAM, we have to join/migrate/update the 5.5 cluster to 6.5.

If possible, I would like to avoid using EVC-mode as I would have to restart all VMs afterwards afaik.

Would this be a way?

- create a second cluster on the 6.5 cluster

- remove a host from the inventory of the 5.5 cluster

- re-add the host to the new cluster on the 6.5 cluster

Would this setup allow moving VMs between the 2 clusters without virtual HW conflicts and without using EVC?

If so, I plan to migrate the 5.5 hosts to 6.5 one by one.

Would this also offer the possibility of HA across two clusters?

Thanks in advance!

[GayathriS · Accepted solution]

With out EVC , its not possible to migrate VM's with different model/series of CPU

Different vendor is not possible

You should read through EVC doc:

VMware Knowledge Base

Please mark this as "correct" or " Helpfull" if this answers your query.

regards

Gayathri

[malickware]

Higher CPU cycle to a lower CPU cycle vmotion is always possible without EVC, however, you can not move the VM from higher clock cycle to a new clock cycle esxi host.

HA is a cluster function and will not help in your case.

The best solution is to make the 6.5 esxi host to be in EVC mode.

[bl1nd3d]

Thanks for your help

So I would procede like this:

-Set EVC mode to Ivy Bridge on the 6.5 cluster

-Remove a host from the 5.5 inventory and add it to the 6.5 cluster.

Will it work with EVC enabled on 6.5 and being disabled on 5.5?