Moving a ESXI VM from one host to another using local storage

[maxrebo]

Hi,

I need to move 2 VM`s from an ESXI Host to another. We don't have shared storage only local. I'm just wondering if anyone can share their experience and if it went as straight forward as it sounds on the article on Here on the VMware knowledgebase.

Ones a DC and another`s a member server.

How long does it take etc...

 

cheers

[mrbios]

Used Storage vMotion a lot, it will do exactly as it says on the tin. Doesn't matter what purpose the VM has, so long as both hosts match each other exactly in configuration it will work perfectly. (it'll complain at you if it identifies any inconsistencies before even starting the move)

 

Time taken depends on the size of the data you're moving and the most limiting performance factor between the two storage points. I've both vMotion and storage vMotioned every VM i have before during a working day without anyone noticing (Replaced the shared storage and all hosts during working hours) it's not a requirement but personally each host of mine has a dedicated vMotion NIC, and vMotion has its own vlan.

Edited September 17, 2015 by mrbios

[kidpressingbuttons]

Veeam works really well aswell! I moved my entire network to my new hosts using only veeam. Free version should do it just fine!

[3s-gtech]

I've also done it using a shared NFS connected NAS. Shut down, move files, re-import on the new host. Crude but effective.

[Davit2005]

Some times majorly different hardware can cause it to stop the vMotion. i.e. moving live VM from AMD to Intel. If this is the case then you can always shutdown the VM and and then move.

[john]

As others have said, shut down the vm, copy the folder from the datastore to the new one and then on the new host browse the datastore and right click the *.vmx file and add to inventory.