About VMware vMotion and vCenter Storage vMotion
VMware vMotion (vMotion) technology allows users to migrate running virtual machines between compatible physical servers with zero downtime continuous service availability, and complete transaction integrity. The entire state of a VM is encapsulated by a set of files stored on shared storage, and VMware's VMFS cluster file system allows both the source and the target ESX Server to access these VM files concurrently. The active memory and precise execution state of a VM can then be rapidly transmitted over a high-speed network. Since the network is also virtualized by ESX Server, the VM retains its network identity and connections, ensuring a seamless migration process.
With VMware vCenter Storage vMotion (Storage vMotion), a VM and its disk files can be migrated from one datastore to another while the VM is running. These datastores can be on the same or separate storage arrays. The following terms are important for understanding the vMotion technology.
- Host
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A physical server that is part of the VMware infrastructure hardware resources pool.
- Cold migration
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Migration of a VM that has been powered off on the source host. The VM is powered on again on the destination host after the transfer of the VM is complete.
- Hot migration
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Migration of a VM that is powered on. The VM (and applications) previously running on the source host continue execution on the destination host, without being affected by changes, after the hot migration is complete.
You can enable vMotion on a VMkernel NIC using the Modify Port Properties task.