If you are a systems engineer or IT manager who has decided to migrate from VMware to Proxmox VE, you are well aware of the ever-increasing costs following the Broadcom acquisition and the vendor lock-in that keeps you tied to a single vendor. In this article, we address the most common concerns our customers raise when they need to simplify the transition from their VMware IT infrastructure to Proxmox:
- How do I import a VM into Proxmox?
- How do I move a VMware virtual machine?
- How do I back up VMware virtual machines?
For any technical questions, our AXOL Server systems engineers are always available to help.
Common technical challenges when migrating from a hypervisor
Before moving on to the practical roadmap, let’s clarify the real issues that arise in many managed migrations:
- Proxmox does not import encrypted VMware disks with TPM enabled. TPM must first be disabled in vSphere
- Multiple snapshots can significantly slow down the migration, so consolidate them beforehand
- VMs on vSAN storage are not compatible with direct migration, while, after import, virtual machines often lose network connectivity, requiring the installation of VirtIO drivers
- Special characters in VMware datastore names block the entire import process
A preliminary assessment and a full backup resolve 80% of these issues.
Step 1: tailored assessment and planning
The first essential step is a tailored assessment of your current environment.
Map your entire VM inventory, analyze storage, and check the networking configuration, including VLANs and SDN. Define the precise scope of the project and prioritize mission-critical workloads that require immediate attention.
Step 2: setting up the Proxmox VE infrastructure
Set up a test cluster with at least three nodes on high-performance hardware; if you wish to select and simulate the use of components, you can use our online configurator.
Configure the Ceph distributed storage, the built-in firewall and automated backups using Proxmox Backup Server. If you are using specific features such as GPU passthrough or LXC containers, test them at this stage to ensure compatibility.
Step 3: preparing for a secure VM migration
- How do I move a VMware VM and import it into Proxmox?
Export the VMs in OVF format, convert the VMDK disks to QCOW2 using qemu-img, then import them into Proxmox storage by creating a new VM and attaching the converted disks. - How do I back up VMware VMs before migration?
Perform full backups using Proxmox Backup Server or VMware’s native tools, including snapshots of the network configuration (ipconfig /all on Windows). Use cold migration for test VMs and live migration over a dedicated 1Gbps+ network. Always remember to disable TPM and consolidate snapshots before proceeding.
Step 4: migration completion and optimization
After import, install VirtIO drivers for networking and disks to ensure optimal performance. Reconfigure IP addresses, DNS, and gateways, then check networking and security using Proxmox’s advanced ACLs. Run stress tests with real workloads and verify that everything is working correctly.
By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the risks associated with migration. If you would rather not manage everything in-house or on your own, AXOL Server’s systems engineers are your ideal partners.
Why choose AXOL Server for migrating from VMware
The success of a migration depends both on careful planning and on choosing the right approach – whether manual or automated. If you have any concerns or want to ensure that the migration from VMware to Proxmox goes smoothly, you can rely on an experienced technology partner such as AXOL Server.
