VMware migration tool: we need your feedback!

katapaltes

@florent Hi there, and thank you for your reply. I did a file compare of the .VMX and .VMSD files and found only one difference between when the VM was configured for Native Snapshots and not configured for Native Snapshots. Note that snapshot.alwaysAllowNative = "FALSE" is the default afaik, so a .VMX file without this line in it has Native Snapshots disabled.

C:\Downloads>fc stem2p19_files-snap-false\stem2p19.vmx stem2p19_files-snap-true\stem2p19.vmx
Comparing files STEM2P19_FILES-SNAP-FALSE\stem2p19.vmx and STEM2P19_FILES-SNAP-TRUE\STEM2P19.VMX
***** STEM2P19_FILES-SNAP-FALSE\stem2p19.vmx
usb_xhci:4.parent = "-1"
snapshot.alwaysAllowNative = "FALSE"
***** STEM2P19_FILES-SNAP-TRUE\STEM2P19.VMX
usb_xhci:4.parent = "-1"
snapshot.alwaysAllowNative = "TRUE"

C:\Downloads>fc stem2p19_files-snap-false\stem2p19.vmsd stem2p19_files-snap-true\stem2p19.vmsd
Comparing files STEM2P19_FILES-SNAP-FALSE\stem2p19.vmsd and STEM2P19_FILES-SNAP-TRUE\STEM2P19.VMSD
FC: no differences encountered

I tested several scenarios for fun:

Windows VM with Native Snapshots enabled:
With VM powered down and no snapshot taken, can I still import it successfully?
Yes.
What about powered down and with a (native) snapshot taken?
Yes, with or without "Stop the Source VM" enabled.
What about with VM powered on, snapshot taken, and Stop the Source VM enabled, can I import VM successfully?
No, at the end of the import, both imported disks and the imported VM disappear.
What about with VM powered on, native snapshot enabled, no snapshot taken, and Stop the Source VM enabled, can I import VM successfully?
Yes.

Windows VM with Native Snapshots not enabled (just one single test scenario):
What about with VM powered on, snapshot taken, and Stop the Source VM enabled, can I import VM successfully?
Yes

So the problem seems to be when the VM is powered on and there's a native snapshot present.

The warm migration capability is very cool. I likely won't use it because a reboot would be required to remove VMware Tools anyway. Also, my VMs are not huge and should migrate fast.

I see what you mean by Fast Clone. That is very fast.. I'll try to get that to work with Citrix MCS. I think it may only be useful for our single-sessions hosts, not our RDSH-type hosts, but that would still be helpful.

One last thing: NetApp offers a very good ONTAP simulator for free. Now that ESXi is also free once again (LOL), you may be able to test the above scenario on your end if you like.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Cheers!