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

VMware 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.

VMware HCX vMotion

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.

  • Virtual machine state is migrated. There is no service interruption during the VMware HCX vMotion migration.

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

VMware HCX 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.

VMware HCX Replication Assisted vMotion

VMware HCX Replication Assisted vMotion (RAV) combines advantages from VMware HCX Bulk Migration (parallel operations, resiliency, and scheduling) with VMware HCX vMotion (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-premise or cloud-based data centers. Activating this service requires additional HCX licensing.

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

Workload Migration for NSX V2T

Workload Migration for NSX V2T operates within a single vCenter for the lift-and-shift of workloads from an NSX for vSphere environment to an NSX environment.

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