Information:
VirtualCenter Server with VMWare Converter Enterprise enabled allows you to Import and Export Virtual Machines in any of the following ways.
Import Options
- Remote physical computer
- VMWare virtual machine
- Microsoft virtual machine
- 3rd party backup image
Export Options
- VMWare ESX server or VirtualCenter virtual machine
- VMWare standalone virtual machine
- (VMWare workstatation, VMWare Fusion, VMWare Server, VMWare Player, VMWare ACE or VMWare GSX Server).
Regardless of which migration method is used, the procedure is basically the same.
Note: An export is really just a copy of the VM, the original VM is not deleted or modified automatically, you must delete the original manually.
Note: The VI Client needs to have the VMWare Converter Enterprise plug-in installed and then enabled.
Solution:
Using the VI Client you can right click any Cluster or ESX Host and select Import, or you can right click any Virtual Machine and select Export.
The following procedure is done as an example using the Export method to transfer a Virtual Machine between two VirtualCenter Servers. This method assumes that the source and destination servers are well connected (100Mbs or better), and you have permissions on both servers. Doing this over a WAN connection is not recommended.
1) Power off the Virtual Machine that is to be migrated.
2) Using the VI Client connect to the source VC Server
3) Click the Inventory button
a. Change to the Hosts and Clusters view
4) Right click the source Virtual Machine
a. Select “Export”
5) The Export Wizard appears
a. Step 1: Source
i. Source Data
1. Select: Export all data and maintain size
2. You can resize the disks, if needed.
b. Step 2: Destination
i. Destination Type:
1. Select VMWare ESX Server or VirutalCenter virtual machine
ii. Destination Login:
1. Enter the FQDN (or IP Address) of the destination server
2. Enter the username and password
iii. VM Name and Folder
1. Enter the VM name
iv. Host / Cluster
1. Select the ESX Host as the destination
v. Datastore
1. Select the destination datastore
vi. Networks
1. Select the destination network
2. Add additional NIC if needed
c. Step 3: Customization
i. Select any of the customization options as needed. Normally, these will be skipped.
d. Step 4: Schedule Task
i. Select Immediately or schedule to run at a later time.
e. Ready to Complete
i. Review Summary
ii. Click Finish
6) Confirm the export completed successfully
a. Power on the VM and test network connectivity
7) Delete original source machine if needed.