Migrating from VMware vSphere to Nutanix Acropolis Hypervisor (AHV) can enhance your IT infrastructure’s efficiency and reduce licensing costs. This transition involves careful planning and the use of specialised tools to ensure a seamless migration with minimal downtime.

Migration Strategies

1. Nutanix Move:
   This native tool facilitates the migration of virtual machines (VMs) from VMware ESXi to Nutanix AHV. It offers features like automated VM conversion, real-time data synchronisation, and network mapping, streamlining the process and reducing manual intervention.

2. Manual Migration:
   This approach involves exporting VMs from ESXi as Open Virtualization Format (OVF) or Open Virtual Appliance (OVA) files and importing them into AHV. While it provides greater control, it is more time-consuming and requires a higher level of technical expertise.

Migration Process Using Nutanix Move

1. Preparation:

   • Assess the Environment:
     Evaluate your current VMware infrastructure to identify VMs suitable for migration.
   • Install Nutanix Move:
     Deploy the Nutanix Move appliance within your environment. This involves downloading the Move QCOW2 file, uploading it to the Nutanix datastore, and creating a VM from this image.

2. Configuration:

   • Add Source and Target Environments:
     Within Nutanix Move, configure your VMware vSphere as the source and Nutanix AHV as the target environment.
   • Upload VDDK:
     The VMware Virtual Disk Development Kit (VDDK) is required for disk operations during migration. Download the appropriate VDDK version from VMware and upload it to Nutanix Move.

3. Migration Execution:

   • Create a Migration Plan:
     Define the VMs to migrate, specify target containers, and configure network settings.
   • Data Seeding and Synchronisation:
     Nutanix Move performs initial data seeding and keeps the source and target VMs synchronised until cutover.
   • Cutover:
     Finalize the migration by shutting down the source VM and activating the target VM on AHV.

Post-Migration Considerations

• Testing:
  Verify the functionality of migrated VMs to ensure applications operate correctly in the new environment.
• Optimisation:
  Utilise Nutanix tools to optimise performance and resource allocation for your workloads.
• Training:
  Provide training for your IT staff on managing and operating within the Nutanix AHV environment.

Additional Resources

• Nutanix Support & Insights:
  Access detailed documentation and support for migration processes.
• Nutanix Move FAQs:
  Review frequently asked questions to gain deeper insights into the migration tool.

By leveraging tools like Nutanix Move and adhering to best practices, organisations can effectively transition from VMware vSphere to Nutanix AHV, achieving a more streamlined and cost-effective IT infrastructure.