In VMware virtualization, we can perform multiple types of migrations of virtual machines.
VMware Virtual machine migration means moving a virtual machine from one host, datastore, or vCenter Server to another host, datastore, or vCenter Server. We perform these activities for Workload balancing, or as part of preparations to avoid downtime during activities like server maintenance, site level switch-over and other
Below are the types of migrations we can perform:
Cold:
Migration of a powered-off virtual machine from current host/datastore or both to a new host or datastore. Virtual machines can be migrated across vCenter Server in this type.
Suspended:
Migration of a suspended state virtual machine from current host/datastore or both to a new host or datastore. Virtual machines can be migrated across vCenter Server in this type.
vMotion:
Migration of a powered-on virtual machine from current host to a new host without downtime and zero data and connectivity loss. Only the CPU and Memory instances on ESXi host gets migrated, virtual machine files on datastore are not migrated.
Virtual machines can be migrated across vCenter Server in this type.
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| Image: VMware |
Storage vMotion:
Migration of a powered-on virtual machine's files from current datastore to a new datastore. In this type ESXi host is not changed, only datastore file location is changed from current datastore to new datastore.
Virtual machines can be migrated across vCenter Server in this type.
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| Image: VMware |
Shared-nothing vSphere vMotion:
Migrate a powered-on virtual machine from current host and datastore to a new host and a new datastore as we are not using shared datastore here instead local datastores.
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| Image: VMware |
Virtual machines can be migrated across vCenter Server in this type.
This migration type is often termed as vMotion+Storage vMotion due to its nature.
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| Image: VMware |
NOTE: In case of vMotion, Shared nothing vMotion and Suspended state migration, CPU compatibility is must. CPU vendor and processor family should match, factors like number of cores, clock speed does not make any condition here.
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