Virtual Machine Migration from 2.5 to 3.0

[jitendrakmr]

Hello Everyone,

Coming weekend I have to migrate a VM which is currently running locally in a ESX 2.5 host to a ESX 3.0 host. I am planning to follow following steps -

1. Shutdown VM.

2. on source ESX 2.5 host run "vmkfstools -e /path/to/src/src.vmdk /abc/def/dest.vmdk" //On the Same HOST location "/abc/def". Can anyone explain why we need to run it?

3. on source vm run "scp /abc/def/dest.vmdk root@esx2:/vmfs/temp/vmdiskfile.vmdk" to copy vmdk to new ESX 3.0 host.

4. on destination ESX 3.0 host run "vmkfstools -i /vmfs/temp/vmdiskfile.vmdk -d 2gbsparse /vmfs/newvm/dest.vmdk" to convert the vmdk file for vmfs3 filesystem.

5. Create new VM on destination host using this new vmdk.

Please let me know if I am missing anything here?

Thanks.

Jitendra Kumar

MCSE 2003, VCP, CCNA, ITIL Foundation

[kjb007]

If you want to make things simpler for yourself, use converter. It will take care of exporting, and importing your vmdk for you.

-KjB

[jitendrakmr]

Actually I have a disk using rdm in that VM; I had troubles using VMWare Converter with VMs using rdm and thats why I am planning to use steps mentioned above (first message in this post). Can you forsee any issues with above steps?

Thanks.

Jitendra Kumar

MCSE 2003, VCP, CCNA, ITIL Foundation

[kjb007]

Your steps should work fine. One thing I would say is that the reason for exporting/importing (As far as i know) is to get around VMFS2/EXT3/VMFS3 formats, and exporting from VMFS2 to EXT3 and then going from EXT3 to VMFS3. Your steps should go fine, as long as you have the space. It may be a bit overkill, though, as you should be able to scp directly from VMFS to VMFS, and may not need the intermediate export/import steps. You will have to update the virtual hardware and tools once you're into the ESX3/VMFS3.

Good luck.

-KjB

[Vandalay]

Can't you just add both hosts to VC, then migrate the VM to the new host and select a VMFS3 datastore. Then upgrade the hardware and VM Tools in VC and call it done?

[jitendrakmr]

Just using VC I dont think I can migrate a machine (with rdms which are not visible to 3.0 hosts) stored locally in ESX 2.5 host to a ESX3.0 box; so thats why I am planning to use above steps.

Thanks.

Jitendra Kumar

MCSE 2003, VCP, CCNA, ITIL Foundation