What is a VMware migration?
A VMware migration can take place inside an existing vSphere environment or involve a move to a different platform – up to and including the public cloud. Depending on the method, the migration is possible with or without downtime.
Methods of VMware migration
vMotion
Live migration of running VMs to another host – without downtime and transparent to users.
Storage vMotion
Moving VM data to a different storage system while the VM keeps running.
Cold migration
Migration of stopped VMs. Simple, but it involves downtime.
Cross-vCenter migration
Moving VMs between different vCenter instances, for example during consolidation.
Cloud migration
Tools such as VMware HCX move workloads into public or hybrid cloud environments.
Benefits of VMware migration
- Minimal downtime: With vMotion or Storage vMotion, migrations run almost without interruption.
- Flexibility: Workloads can be moved dynamically and placed optimally.
- Cost efficiency: Migrations help consolidate hardware or move to cheaper models.
- Modernisation: A fast route to new infrastructure and cloud strategies.
Challenges & risks
- Complexity: Planning, tooling and know-how are essential.
- Downtime: Cold migrations or errors can cause outages.
- Compatibility: Different VMware versions and licences have to be taken into account.
- Data consistency: The integrity and completeness of data must be guaranteed.
Tools for VMware migration
- vMotion & Storage vMotion: The standard methods for live migration.
- VMware HCX: Hybrid Cloud Extension for migration into the cloud.
- vSphere Replication: For planned failover scenarios.
- Third-party tools: Zerto, Veeam or PlateSpin for complex migration projects.
VMware migration and centron
centron supports companies in migrating their VMware environments safely – internally or into the cloud. ccloud³ VM provides a powerful target platform, complemented by security and backup solutions.
| centron component | Role in a migration |
|---|---|
| ccloud³ VM | Target environment for VMware workloads with a high degree of flexibility |
| Backup & Recovery | Protection for VMs, data and configuration during the migration |
| Managed Firewall | Secure access and network segmentation in the new environment |
| CI/CD Pipelines | Automated deployments and post-migration testing |
| Cloud GPU | Extending workloads with GPU power after the migration |
FAQ on VMware migration
What is VMware migration?
Moving VMs, workloads or entire infrastructures within VMware or into the cloud.
Which methods are there?
vMotion, Storage vMotion, cold migration, cross-vCenter migration and cloud migration with VMware HCX.
What are the benefits of VMware migration?
Flexibility, modernisation, cost efficiency and minimal downtime.
What are the risks?
Complexity, possible downtime, compatibility problems and ensuring data integrity.
Secure VMware migration with centron
With Backup & Recovery and Managed Firewall, centron keeps your data safe and protected during the migration – in a data centre certified to ISO 27001 on the basis of IT-Grundschutz.
VMware migration ccloud³ VMs