I want to look for the best option method we can use to migrate VMs from vCenter 5.5 environment to totally new host with ESXi 6.7 update.
My customer want to migrates their VMs from old environment, which consist of vCenter 5.5, with some hosts also 5.5 version. This environment connect to SAN storage with FC protocol, FC Switch in the middle.
The new environment should be Standalone ESXi host, with latest version; 6.7 update 2. This host still uses internal datastore (internal HDD), no connection to current SAN Storage.
My question is what is the best option available to migrate VMs for such this environment? Downtime is possible, but we want to minimize it as much as possible.
What is my thought now is to convert VMs using VMware vCenter Converter Standalone to new ESXi.
What do you think, folks? Please share your ideas.
Best Regards,
Azlan Syah
Why do you want to move to a standalone host? You are not going to keep vcenter?
At the moment do you have a cluster?
Well, we know very well that this is not an ideal condition.
But, this is the resource we have this year for new environment.
Next year, maybe will be added by additional ESXi host, FC Switch, SAN Storage, and vCenter.
At the moment we have cluster, including stuff I mentioned above. But the version is still 5.5, and the customer does not plan to upgrade the version on this resource. The plan is only to migrate some VMs (around 5 VMs) to that standalone ESXi and they know the risks exactly.
Hi, The best method to migrate your environment is performing VMware converter.
Perform with vSphere replication appliance
Install replication appliance on source and distination
sync the vms between source and destination
power off the souce
do final sync
power on the destination
I think vSphere replication appliance need to be registered to VMware vCenter Server, please correct me if it is wrong.
Or, is it possible to do vSphere replication from vCenter to standalone ESXi host?
But, this can be another option also, by setup temporary vCenter Server + VRM to do migration. Btw, is it possible to do it between vCenter 5.5 to VCSA 6.7?
Please give me some inputs. :smileylaugh:
VMware converter would be a solution
OR
present a LUN on both the environment and un-register from one environment and register on the destination.
Hello There,
You can look for OVF Template option. Verify that the virtual machine is powered off.
Steps:
Similarly you can select Import option and deploy the OVA file.
NOTE: I think you must need vCenter to do this OVF Deploy operation. From Standalone ESXi you can't import /deploy the OVA/OVF Files.
Because of your special situation (don't have a vCenter in your destination site) i think regardless of VMware Converter, the best and safe solution is using
backup solution. If you provide a full backup of your VMs with a backup product like VEEAM Backup, then you can restore them to another Hosts in another site with different version of ESXi hosts.
azlans27
Yes, We need to register the vsphere replication with the center. i have attached the interoperability matrix with this. you need to install the 6.5.1 version of vsphere replication appliance.
https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/sim/interop_matrix.php#interop&509=&1=
only thing there should be the communication between the source and the destination.
no need to worry about the license because its free comes with vsphere license.
Since downtime is permitted and it's only 5 VMs (I am assuming these VMs are not huge) - I'd just shut a VM off and SCP it from one host to another. Sure you can get creative with VCSA trials, vSphere Rep, Veeam, etc. but it sounds like a super small environment and the customer knows the implications of the ask.
SCP it and move on.
Hi,
You can use Veeam Quick Migration.
Quick Migration is a Veeam Backup Free Edition feature, the completely free edition of Veeam Backup & Replication.
Free Backup Solution - Veeam Backup & Replication Community Edition https://www.veeam.com/it/virtual-machine-backup-solution-free.html
Quick Migration allows you to migrate an active VM between any host and / or datastore. Select the desired VM, right-click and choose Quick Migration:
Alessandro Romeo
Hi All,
thank you for sharing your ideas. Now I have some options available.
Once project finished, I will be back to update which method I use to do migration for such environment.