Moving VM from on ESXi host to another

slylittlefox

slylittlefox

slylittlefox

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What's the best way to do this?

Trying to move our VMs from one host to another, but they've all got thin provisioned disks and would easily fill any client PC if downloaded and then reuploaded.

Anyone any ideas? Ideally I'd like to move them directly to save any download/upload process.
 
Alternatively, is there any way to change the UUID of the filesystem on one disk, so I can just move the disk into the new host?

At the moment it complains that it's found two filesystems with the same UUID and fails to boot.
 
Convert to template first and select the option to minimise disk space. Should stay the same size then.

I'd look to directly SSH / FTP the files but not so sure how this works on ESXi without the console.

VEAM may have an option or two.
 
wtf...

Just go into the ESXi Filestore and copy the directory that contains the VM Files.

You can then import that VM into the other ESXi box by pointing it at the directory you copied over.

Voila.
 
Cheers for the replies guys. I'll give VEEAM FastSCP a go and failing that try VMware converter.

There's two ESXi boxes at a remote location, I've got access to an XP client on the same network.

@Dr Pain, Droyden: ESXi Filestore? You mean the datastore browser? This is all just ESXi, I don't have licenses for vSphere centre, only the basic client.
 
Ah gotcha, sorry I assumed it was within vCenter. Either FastSCP or as DrPain suggests download the vmdk/vmx file via the browser.

Not sure what you can use VMware converter for though..

Edit: That said, although you couldnt do it in one step, if you have some sort of network shared storage (nfs/iscsi) then you could still use the migrate option (I think).
 
Yeah I agree.

Easiest way is to browse the local datastore, and download the VM directory and its files to your local PC. THen Upload the the OTHER ESXi Datastore, and job done after a quick import.

Its dead easy. Sounds like your not using a SAN or shared storage as SlylittleFox points out.
 
Dr. Pain said:
Easiest way is to browse the local datastore, and download the VM directory and its files to your local PC. THen Upload the the OTHER ESXi Datastore, and job done after a quick import.
Click to expand...

Can't do that though because the thin provisioned disks expand and so are too big for the client :(


HarryPainful said:
You can do it in one step, using VMware converter!

Takes 5 mins to set up then leave it to move the VM, then boot the VM.

Job done.
Click to expand...

VEEAM is running at the moment copying across the first VM (only at 5MB/s though :() - think I'll try Converter for the next one :)

Cheers for all the advice.
 
Sorry,

I just assumed you had the same space on both ESXi boxes....

I'll go back to sleep!!

HAng on what do you mean? When you are moving the files the VM is offline, and whatever the VMDK file size is, wont be getting any bigger until the VM is booted on the other ESXi box...

Or are you saying you wish to move the VM, AND convert it to a fixed size instead of thin provisioned at the same time ?

I dont want to confuse anything so I'm sorry in advance.
 
Last edited:
Haha :D

When you download a thin disk to a normal filesystem, it expands - so the Teradata VM I was wanting to move was expanding to 180GB on the client (form which I'd then upload to the new host) and failing as a result.

Anyway, I tried VEEAM, but that had the same effect even copying from ESXi -> ESXi, VMWare converter did the job perfectly and in just a few minutes :cool:

Cheers Harry!
 
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