Migrating a Virtual Machine Between Datastores in VMware ESXi 5.5
From PiRho Knowledgebase
Summary: How to safely move a virtual machine from one datastore to another in VMware ESXi 5.5 when Storage vMotion or vCenter Server are unavailable.
Context
Why Migrate a Virtual Machine?
Common Migration Scenarios
Migration Methods Available in ESXi 5.5
Storage vMotion
Cold Migration
Manual Migration
Understanding the Limitations
Direct ESXi Host Connections
Free ESXi Licensing
Why the Migrate Option May Not Appear
Manual Datastore Migration Procedure
Step 1 – Power Down the Virtual Machine
Step 2 – Verify Datastore Capacity
Step 3 – Copy the VM Files
Step 4 – Remove the VM from Inventory
Step 5 – Register the VM from the New Datastore
Step 6 – Power On and Verify
Step 7 – Remove the Original Copy
Common Pitfalls
Snapshot Files
Moving vs Copying
UUID and MAC Address Changes
Locked Files
Thin and Thick Provisioned Disks
Troubleshooting & Diagnostics
VM Will Not Start
Missing VMDK Files
Invalid Configuration Errors
Datastore Space Issues
Design & Operational Considerations
When Manual Migration Is Appropriate
When Storage vMotion Is Worth the Investment
Documentation and Change Control
Related Topics
References
- VMware ESXi Documentation
- VMware Storage vMotion Documentation
