Move a VMware VM from one host to another WITHOUT VMware vMotion

[goodface]

we have 2 esxi host not share storage and not vcenter. we want to Copy a virtual machine to another ESXi host without vCenter. how to make it. how to make live and if we copy guest to another host. while copy (vmdk file) vm guest must power off or power on ?

thank for all

[Vikas Shitole]

Without vCenter (in turn vMotion will not be available) , there is one way to move your VM files from 1st host to other datastore and then register on 2nd host but you need at-least shared datastore.

If you can make at-least one shared datastore & your VM files are available on local datastore (not shared), from VI client, login to 1st ESXi host>>power off VM>>Unregister the VM>> goto the datastore where VM files folder available (datastore browser)>> click on VM folders (containing all VM files,ie. vmx, vmdks etc)>> once you click on VM folder, see on the top, you will get move arrow >> Click on move arrow >>It will take you to select the other datastore for moving these files>> select the datatsore which is shared with 2nd ESXi host>>once move operation is complete >> login to 2nd host>>go to the the datastore where you moved your files>> and register the VM by right clicking on vmx file.

There can be other way using vmkfstools but not sure it works even without shared datastore.(I think, it will not work without shared datastore)

[Vikas Shitole]

I could find other way by copying the entire files without shared DS.

See below option works:

you could simply shut down the vm, log into the esx server via ssh and copy the vm over to the second esxi using scp

e.g.:

scp -r /vmfs/volumes/volume1/path/to/vm-directory esx2:/vmfs/volumes/volume1

Refer: all below related threads on this :

https://communities.vmware.com/message/1753148#1753148

Re: How do you move a VM running vCenter from one ESXi host to another?

Re: How to move VMs from one host to another without full VI and vMotion?

[BenLiebowitz]

I don't see how you can do it as a live migration without vMotion.  You could shutdown the source VM and use the VMware Standalone Converter to make a copy of the VM to the other host. 

[rcporto]

You can use Veeam Quick Migration, but you may need a licensed version of ESXi: Moving VMware VM from one host to another without vMotion

[Stromilov]

For VM without snapshots and RDM disks you can use Extrasphere solution even with free ESXi.