Virtual Machines can be moved to and from HCX-activated data centers using multiple migration technologies.

Note: For information regarding the number of concurrent migrations supported for a specific migration type, see VMware Configuration Maximums for HCX.

Bulk Migration

This migration method uses the VMware vSphere Replication protocols to move the virtual machines to a destination site.

  • The Bulk migration option is designed for moving virtual machines in parallel.

  • This migration type can set to complete on a pre-defined schedule.

  • The virtual machine runs at the source site until the failover begins. The service interruption with the bulk migration is equivalent to a reboot.

For more information, refer to Understanding VMware HCX Bulk Migration.

vMotion Migration

This migration method uses the VMware vMotion protocol to move a virtual machine to a remote site.

  • The vMotion migration option is designed for moving single virtual machine at a time.

  • The virtual machine state is migrated. There is no service interruption during an HCX vMotion migration.

For more information, refer to Understanding HCX vMotion and Cold Migration.

Cold Migration

This migration method uses the VMware NFC protocol. It is automatically selected when the source virtual machine is powered off.

For more information, refer to Understanding HCX vMotion and Cold Migration.

Replication Assisted vMotion

Replication Assisted vMotion (RAV) combines advantages from Bulk Migration (parallel operations, resiliency, and scheduling) with vMotion Migration (zero downtime virtual machine state migration).

For more information, refer to Understanding HCX Replication Assisted vMotion.

VMware HCX OS Assisted Migration

This migration method provides for the bulk migration of guest (non-vSphere) virtual machines using OS Assisted Migration to VMware vSphere on-premises or cloud-based data centers.

For more information, refer to Understanding VMware HCX OS Assisted Migration.

HCX Assisted vMotion (Direct)

With HCX Assisted vMotion (Direct) migration, HCX orchestrates migrations between HCX Manager source and destination sites leveraging native VMware vSphere cross-vCenter vMotion. For more information, refer to Understanding HCX Assisted vMotion (Direct).

Workload Migrations for NSX V2T

Workload Migrations for NSX V2Toperates within a single vCenter, across vCenters, or to Federated NSX environments for the lift-and-shift of workloads from an NSX for vSphere environment to an NSX environment.

For more information, refer to Understanding Workload Migrations for NSX V2T.