Migrate VM when vCenter server is offline!!?

[269083]

Hi guys,

I want to ask if vCenter server is offline, can i migrate virtual machine between hosts. I know when vCenter server down, HA services are still running on hosts, but i don't know can i migrate virtual machine between hosts? So i need information about this task.

Thanks!

[Wonlliv]

Hi,

no it is not possible to migrate a VM using vMotion when the vCenter is offline. 😉

Best regards

[269083]

Hi Wonlliv,

I think so. But i can not find any document for this task. Too difficult to talk with my customer when i don't have any evidence.

Thanks!

[IT_pilot]

HA services use VM restart.

You can do the same thing manually, but it's laborious.

And if you do not use Distributed Switch with standard port groups.

1. Shutdown the VM.

2. Unregister the VM on the first host.

3. Registration on the second.

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1006160

[269083]

Hi PilotXP_11,

Yes i understand your KB and i did this task before.

Thanks!

[IT_pilot]

For your customers, as evidence, you can refer to the official documentation. That describes the migration process - Migrate a Powered-On Virtual Machine with vMotion in the vSphere Client.

Migration WITHOUT vSphere Client is not provided.

[269083]

Yes, I will find document to answer thier.

Thanks for your support!

[a_p_]

But i can not find any document for this task.

Online migration (vMotion) is a feature in vCenter Server Essentials Plus, or better (see https://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/pdf/products/vsphere/vmware-vsphere-vs... ).

Without vCenter Server up, and running you may be able to migrate powered off VMs manually (unregistering/registering, backup/restore, ...), but that's likely not what you are asking for.

André