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VMware VirtualCenter 1.3.x Support Documentation


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Moving Powered-On Virtual Machines

Move virtual machines that are powered on manually or set up a scheduled task.

Note: Powered-on virtual machines can be moved between ESX Server hosts. This type of migration with VMotion cannot be performed with GSX Server hosts at this time.

Migration with VMotion topics are covered in the following sections:

Note: Disconnect any remote consoles that are external to VirtualCenter and connected to the virtual machine you are migrating. Though the virtual machine appears to be migrating, until you disconnect the external remote console, the migration does not complete. If the virtual machine is connected to the console from the Console tab in VirtualCenter, the migration with VMotion completes without any intervention.

Migrating with VMotion a Virtual Machine Manually

Note: Before you begin, disconnect any peripheral devices connected to the virtual machine.

1. From the VirtualCenter client, display the inventory panel to view the virtual machine.

Click the Inventory option in the navigation bar. Expand the inventory as needed, and click the appropriate virtual machine.

2. Make sure that both the source and target hosts are VMotion-enabled and using the same SAN.

Link to vmotionready.png

For each host, click the host. Select the Summary tab. Check the VMotion Enabled field and the Datastores section. The VMotion Enabled field should say Yes. Datastores on both hosts should list the same name.

Refer to VirtualCenter VMotion Requirements, Adding Licenses, and Enabling VMotion for additional information.

3. Display the inventory panel and select the appropriate farm.

Click the Inventory option in the navigation bar. Expand the inventory as needed, and click the appropriate virtual machine.

4. Start the migration with VMotion Wizard.

In the inventory panel, select the desired virtual machine. Then perform one of the following:

  • From the main or right-click popup menu, select the Migrate option.
  • From the information panel Summary tab, click the Migrate to New Host button.
  • Drag and drop the virtual machine on to the target host.

    • The migration with VMotion Wizard starts.

    5. Confirm the migration with VMotion Wizard. Click Next.

    6. Select the migration priority level.

    Link to migratehotpriority.png

    Set the priority of the migration to ensure that sufficient processor resources are available on both the source and target hosts to perform the migration.

    Click the appropriate button and click Next.

    7. Confirm the migration with VMotion wizard. Click Finish.

    VirtualCenter moves the selected virtual machine from the original host to the target host. The virtual disks remain in the same location on the shared datastore.

    Creating a Scheduled Task to Migrate a Virtual Machine with VMotion

    This process sets up a scheduled task to migrate a powered-on virtual machine using VMotion.

    1. Display the Tasks panel.

    Click the Tasks option in the navigation bar. The list of scheduled tasks appears.

    2. Start the New Task Wizard. Click New in the toolbar.

    3. Confirm continuing with the New Task Wizard. Click Next.

    4. Select the task to create.

    Click the pull-down menu and select the Migrate a Virtual Machine option. Click Next.

    5. Select the virtual machine to migrate. Click Next.

    Link to migrateselvm.png

    6. Select the target host for the virtual machine. Click Next.

    Link to migrateselhostsched.png

    7. Select a priority for the migration.

    Link to migratehotpriority.png

    Set the priority of the migration to ensure that sufficient processor resources are available on both the source and target hosts to perform the migration. Click Next.

    8. Set the time and date when you want the virtual machine to migrate. Click Next.

    To see the calendar, click Later, then click the drop-down arrow to select a date from the displayed calendar. A red circle indicates today's date and a dark circle indicates the scheduled date. Refer to Creating a Scheduled Task for additional information.

    9. Confirm creating the task.

    Optionally, specify an email address to receive notification when the task is performed. Click Finish.

    VirtualCenter adds the new task to the scheduled task list and completes it at the designated time. When it is time to perform the task, VirtualCenter first verifies that the user who created the task still has permission to complete the task. If the permission levels are not acceptable, VirtualCenter sends a message to the events, and the task is not performed. Similarly, if the virtual machine is not in the correct state and VMotion is not enabled, VirtualCenter sends a message to the event log, and the task is not performed.

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