6.10 Configuring Target Virtual Machines

For jobs that involve workload virtualization, PlateSpin Migrate provides a mechanism for specifying target VM configuration options, such as providing a target VM name and a configuration file path, selecting a datastore to use, and allocating virtual memory, in accordance with the features and capabilities of the selected virtualization platform.

If you have resource pools configured on your target virtualization platform, you can select a resource pool for your VM to be assigned to.

NOTE:If your target VMware ESX server is part of a fully automated Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS) cluster (a cluster with its VM migration automation level set to Fully Automated), the newly created target VM’s automation level is changed to Partially Automated for the duration of the migration. This means that your target VM might power up on a different ESX server from the one initially selected, but migration is prevented from automatic execution.

To specify target VM configuration options:

In Wizard mode, PlateSpin Migrate prompts only for basic virtual machine configuration options. For configuring advanced virtual machine options, such as those related to resource pools and CPU scheduling, switch to the Advanced mode.

VM Name: Specify a display name for the new virtual machine.

Configuration File Path: Specify the path to the target virtual machine’s configuration file.

Datastore: Select the required virtual machine’s datastore.

Resources: Specify the amount of virtual RAM and the number of CPUs to be assigned to the virtual machine.

6.10.1 Virtualization Platform-Specific and Advanced VM Configuration Options

In Advanced mode, PlateSpin Migrate displays target virtual machine configuration options specific to the selected target and provides access to more advanced configuration options.

Virtual Machine Configuration: VMware ESXi 5

The following are configuration options specific to VMware vSphere 5 (applicable to all VMs under the containing resource pool).

Name: Specify the display name for the new virtual machine.

CPU Resources

  • Shares: CPU shares for this virtual machine with respect to the parent’s total. Peer VMs share resources according to their relative share values bounded by the Reservation and Limit. Select Low, Normal, or High, which specify share values respectively in a 1:2:4 ratio. Select Custom to give each virtual machine a specific number of shares, which express a proportional weight.

  • Reservation: Guaranteed CPU allocation for this VM.

    Expandable Reservation: Select this option to specify that more than the specified reservation is allocated if resources are available in a parent.

  • Limit: Upper limit for this virtual machine’s CPU allocation.

    Unlimited: Select this option to specify no upper limit.

Memory Resources: (these are similar to CPU resource settings, but apply to memory resources)

Virtual Machine Configuration: VMware ESX 4.1

The following are configuration options specific to VMware ESX systems prior to vSphere 5. To access settings that control resource pools, the number of CPUs, and CPU scheduling affinity, click Advanced.

Virtual Machine Name: Specify the display name for the new virtual machine.

Datastore: Select the datastore where you want to create the *.vmx file.

Configuration File Path: Specify a name and the directory path for the virtual machine’s *.vmx configuration file.

Virtual Machine Memory Allocation: Specify a value for the amount of virtual RAM to be assigned to the virtual machine.

Install VMware Tools: Enable this option to install VMware tools during the migration process (recommended).

SCSI Drives: Select either BusLogic or LSIlogic (the recommended option).

Advanced: Click this button to view or modify advanced VM configuration settings.

Resource Pool: If required, assign your target VM to a resource pool. When no resource pool is specified, the VM is assigned to the root resource pool.

Number of CPUs: Select the required number of CPUs to assign to the target VM. For example, you can convert a single-processor workload to a multi-processor VM, or a multi-processor workload to a single-processor VM.

CPU Scheduling Affinity: Represents which ESX Server processors the virtual machine can run on (if your ESX Server is a multiprocessor system). Specify the required processor or select Default (recommended).

For details, see your VMware documentation.

Virtual Machine Configuration: Citrix XenServer

The following are configuration options specific to Citrix XenServer.

Virtual Machine Name: Specify the display name for the new virtual machine.

Number of CPUs: Select the number of CPUs to assign to the target VM. For example, you can convert a single-processor workload to a multi-processor VM, or a multi-processor workload to a single-processor VM.

Virtual Machine Memory Allocation: Specify a value for the amount of virtual RAM to be assigned to the virtual machine.

Install XenServer Tools: Enable this option to install XenServer Tools during the migration process (recommended).