Migrating VM to other Host in Vcenter

[maxrebo]

Quick question,

This is probably a straightforward one but don`t want to screw it up!

 

Host A

VM1

VM2

 

Host B

I want to move VM1 on Host A to Host B leaving VM2 intact.

 

Using vCenter "Migrate", when on the Storage selection page, "change both host and datastore" would this leave VM2 on Host A working ok? or does this move all files from the Datastore?

[foofighterjim]

If you are using centralised storage then leave the data where it is and just migrate the VM.

 

If your two hosts use internal storage then moving the VM but not changing the datastore would mean that the VM is using the hardware resources of Host B but its disks would still be on Host A. I'm not sure for what reason you would do this as it would increase the load on the network adaptor and increase read / write time.

 

I do stand to be corrected on this though!

[maxrebo]

Yes Internal storage,

Eventually I want to move both VMs and datastore to another host but at the moment only one of the VM`s.

I don`t mind moving the datastore to the new host but don`t want to screw up the other VM on Host A! as its one of the DC`s!

 

Cheers

[mikkydoos]

When you migrate using vCentre Server, you have the option to move the .vmdk file to the other host as part of the migration. If not using central storage that is.

It physically moves it, not copies it, so it won't exist on host 1 anymore. And you'll get some downtime whilst it moves.

 

You could replicate it, then turn off the VM on host 1.

You'll need to turn off the networking on host 1 too or change the hostname and ip address unless you want a conflict when its done.

 

Have you got Veeam ?

Edited November 21, 2016 by mikkydoos

[maxrebo]

No not got Veeam (yet)

So, the best bet is moving both VM`sat the same time including datastore. Host A is old and will be shutdown after i have moved these.

 

Cheers

[mikkydoos]

No not got Veeam (yet)

So, the best bet is moving both VM`sat the same time including datastore. Host A is old and will be shutdown after i have moved these.

 

Cheers

 

 

I'd move whichever VM's you want along with the virtual disk file.

 

If you've got your second host set up, it already has its own datastore.

 

You'll be moving the virtual disk file and VM registration. Not the datastore.

 

Using vCenter "Migrate", when on the Storage selection page, "change both host and datastore" would this leave VM2 on Host A working ok? or does this move all files from the Datastore?

 

Thats what you want to do.

 

I'd seriously back it up first tho m8. Youi're asking for trouble without a back up. The freebie Veeam will do that for you. Or download your whole datastore to your PC first.

Edited November 21, 2016 by mikkydoos