How to Enable VMotion on an ESX Host
VMotion is a function of VMWare ESX server that allows you to migrate virtual machines from one server to another without service interruption. VMotion has some limitations pertaining to the type of CPU, network and storage with which it can operate. The CPUs in the original and receiving servers need to be from the same manufacturer. These servers need to be on the same Gigabit VLAN and connected to the same storage server in order for VMotion to operate.
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Things You'll Need
- Dedicated gigabit network
- IP addresses of both servers on the dedicated network
Instructions
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1
Select the host for which you want to activate VMotion in your ESX administration panel.
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2
Go to "Configuration," then select "Networking" in the "Hardware" panel.
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3
Select "Add Networking" on the top right corner of the window.
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4
Select "VMKernel" and click "Next."
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5
Enter a name in the "Network Label" to designate the network that VMotion will use to transfer the virtual machine between servers.
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6
Enter the name of the VLAN that is dedicated to the VMotion communication in "VLAN ID" if you have one.
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7
Enter the IP address of the server on the network dedicated to VMotion.
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8
Select "Next" and click "OK."
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9
Click on the VMkernel network and select "Edit."
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10
Check the box next to "VMotion" and press "OK."
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11
Complete steps 1 to 10 on the other host, making sure you use a unique IP address.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Make sure the version of your ESX servers is the same.
You cannot transfer a 64-bit machine on a 32-bit server.
References
- Photo Credit rackmount server farm datacenter image by Adryn from Fotolia.com
