Moving Virtual Machines

[mahwlmg]

I'm new to ESXi having used Virtual Server prior to this and have a simple question about moving virtual machines from one host to another. WIth Virtual Server it was simply a case of copy the Virtual Machine files and load them in to the new Virtual Server. Is it the same with ESXi?

I do not have Virtual Center and currently only have one ESXi host on my site. I have built a Virtual Machine on this but this host needs to be moved to another site which will free up another more powerful server to come back and be the Virtual Host for my site. This virtual machine is needed here so I need to take a copy, remove it from the current host, swap the physical servers, create a new host and copy this virtual machine back on to the new host. Sounds straightforward but I want to know if I will be able to load this virtual machine on to the new host after I've done all the physical moving around.

Thanks for your help.

Mark

[michelb · Accepted solution]

Probably the easiest way to do this is download and install the vmconverter.

Running it from a 3rd PC, convert the vm onto a local drive, swap the servers then convert it back again. You can also copy the vm files from your datastore and then copy them back into the new machine's datastore and re-inventory the vmx file.

[mahwlmg]

Thanks.

So I run vmconverter to turn the ESXi machine in to a standard server VM. Then convert it back to the new ESXi host. Sounds easy enough.

When you say I can "re-inventory the vmx file", can you explain how as I cannot find on the ESXi menus how to add an existing vmx to the host, just options to create new machines. This is what prompted my question about copying the files.

[JoeLyons]

Hi,

as Long as the existing host and the new host as the same version you should have no problems.

Convertor is useful is you are moving between different versions.

BTW: As always back everything up before doing anything.

joe

[michelb]

converter will manipulate the vm, not the host.

Network a pc to the ESXi host. The converter will ask you for some details as in what type of conversion you want - you will choose "other", what the source of the vm is - you will choose "Infrastructure" and supply the login credentials of your ESXi box, converter will ask where you want to place the converted file - you will choose a location in a shared folder on the networked pc's drive. Follow the defaults after that and you will end up with a .vmx file on your hdd that is the vm.

When you get the new server, install ESXi if required otherwise use converter as per above but in reverse.

[mahwlmg]

Thanks.

That gives me a clear path to follow and I understand the steps involved.

[michelb]

Your welcome. Glad we could help.

Could you please mark your question as answered if you are happy the issue is resolved.

Many thanks.