Choosing a migration approach
Notice
As of April 30, 2024, VMware Cloud on AWS is no longer resold by AWS or its channel partners. The service will continue to be available through Broadcom. We encourage you to reach out to your AWS representative for details.
The following decision tree diagram provides a comprehensive overview of the migration approaches that you can take to relocate your VMware applications or workloads to VMware Cloud on AWS, based on your source platform and target platform.
Use the following tables to find the right migration approach by walking through the options available in the preceding decision tree diagram. To get started, choose a link in the Migration approach column of the following table. Choose an approach that aligns with your source and target platform. Then, continue to follow instructions that accompany the tables that you are directed to.
| Source platform | Target platform | Migration approach |
|---|---|---|
VMware vSphere 6.0+ |
VMware Cloud on AWS 6.5+ |
|
VMware vSphere |
AWS native |
|
AWS native |
VMware vSphere |
|
Non-VMware vSphere |
VMware vSphere |
|
HCX-incompatible version |
HCX-incompatible version |
VM Import
The following table provides options for the VM Import migration approach. Choose the link in the Migration approach column that aligns with your source type.
| Source type | Migration approach |
|---|---|
Machine image |
|
VM |
|
Disk or drive |
VM Export
The following table provides options for the VM Export migration approach. Choose the link in the Migration approach column that aligns with your source type.
| Source type | Migration approach |
|---|---|
Image only |
|
Instances |
|
Disk or drive |
VMware HCX
The following table provides options for the VMware HCX migration approach. Choose the link in the Migration approach column that aligns with your migration type.
| Source type | Migration approach |
|---|---|
Bulk migration |
See Understanding VMware HCX Bulk Migration |
VMware vMotion |
See the HCX vMotion section of Understanding VMware HCX vMotion and Cold Migration |
Cold migration |
See the HCX Cold Migration section of Understanding VMware HCX vMotion and Cold Migration |
VMware HCX Replication Assisted vMotion (RAV) |
See Understanding VMware HCX Replication Assisted vMotion |
For more information on the criteria for your migration type, review the following table.
| Bulk migration | VMware vMotion | Cold migration | RAV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Parallel execution |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Velocity (server/month) |
400-1000 |
400-1000 |
400-1000 |
>= 1000 |
Source running |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Downtime |
Reboot |
No (less than or equal to 1 minute) |
Yes (greater than or equal to 1 hour) |
No (less than or equal to 1 minute) |
Cutover |
Instant or scheduled |
Instant |
Powered on |
Instant, scheduled, or admin defined |
Additional license |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Minimum vSphere source version |
6.0+ |
6.0+ |
6.0+ |
6.0+ |
Minimum vSphere target version |
6.5+ |
6.5+ |
6.5+ |
6.5 U3f+ or 6.7 U3+ |
VMware hardware version |
7+ |
9+ |
9+ |
9+ |
Captures active memory |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Captures running state |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Captures IP |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Captures MAC |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Throughput requirements |
Depends on bandwidth availability |
>= 100 Mbps |
>= 100 Mbps |
>= 100 Mbps |
VMware HCX OS Assisted Migration
For more information on this migration option, see Understanding VMware HCX OS Assisted Migration
