Moving vmdk VM files from one host to another?

At The Gates

At The Gates

At The Gates

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18 Oct 2002
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Hi all,

Having some difficulties deciding on how to move some virtual machines. Is the following scenario technically possible?

Host A runs on SAN A with Data Store A presented to it. Not running any VMs yet on this host.

Host B runs VM B on SAN B on Data Store B presented to it.

I need to move VM B to Host A on SAN A. Host A cannot see SAN B and Host B cannot see SAN A so we can't storage vMotion. The only thing that 'physically' links them is vCenter. Host A and B are in different clusters but the same vCenter Data Center. I can see them both in vSphere client.

If i get a server onto the network that Host A and B can see, then shutdown VM B, can i download the vmdk folder of VM B from data store browser to the shared server, then upload it to Data Store A and refresh the inventory of Host A and just boot up the VM from the new host and SAN?

Cheers
 
I guess you could copy the VM folder off the datastore and onto the new one. Just right click the vm and remove from inventory and once it's copied right click the vmx file and register it.
I think another option is to export the VM has a ovf (or ova can't remember) and import than into the new host/san
 
What version of Virtual Center are you running?

I'm pretty sure you can do what you're asking - We don't run multiple clusters, so I can't test it in your exact scenario - but if this isn't possible then go with option 3.

> If you do it from the fat client the machine has to be switched off, but you just right click the server and select 'migrate', the 3rd option 'Change both host and datastore' is what you need.

> From the web client, you can do it without switching the server off, exactly as above - All part of VMWare's plan to force everyone to use the web client....

> The final option is to use Veeam's FastSCP. Shutdown the guest and unregister it, then copy it's folder across to the new host/datastore and reregister it.
(If you're running disks in multiple datastores, it's probably best to migrate them to a single datastore)
 
Using VMWare vCentre Converter Standalone or vCentre will do the trick. Create a temporary Win7 VM, shut down the guest VM, point the converter at the source host, destination host and it'll move it all over and fire it up when it's done.

We use it for P2Vs and V2Vs when swapping out hosts, should be the same premise by the sounds of it?
 
I have used vmware converter moving guests between hosts on different storage. Only thing you need to watch out for is that version of the guest is compatible with the host version.

If not just upgrade the guest to a more recent version, ideally before you move it, if you can.
 
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