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Update documentation for importing of instances
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vishesh92 committed Nov 5, 2024
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Expand Up @@ -113,11 +113,32 @@ In the UI to import instance, you can optionally select a KVM host and temporary

|import-vm-from-vmware-to-kvm-options.png|

When importing a Virtual Machine from VMware to KVM, CloudStack performs the following actions:

- Clones the Source Virtual Machine on the selected VMware Datacenter for running VMs: The source Virtual Machine will be cloned in the original state for running VMs. The recommended state is the stopped state to prevent data inconsistencies or loss when cloning the virtual machine.
- Imports the VM files (OVF) of the Cloned Virtual Machine for running VMs, Source Virtual Machine for stopped VMs to a temporary storage location (which can be selected by the administrator) from KVM host if ovftool installed or management server (can be forced by the administrator).
- Converts the OVF on the temporary storage location to KVM using virt-v2v: CloudStack (or the administrator) selects a running and enabled KVM host to perform the conversion from VMware to KVM using **virt-v2v**. If the binary is not installed, then the host will fail the migration. In case it is installed, it will perform the conversion into the temporary location to store the converted QCOW2 disks of the virtual machine. The disks are then moved into the destination storage pools for the virtual machine. The conversion is a long-lasting process which can be set to time out by the global setting 'convert.vmware.instance.to.kvm.timeout'. The conversion processes takes a long time because virt-v2v creates a temporary virtual machine to inspect the source VM and generate the converted disks with the correct drivers. Additionally, it needs to copy the converted disks into the temporary location.
When importing a instance from VMware to KVM, CloudStack performs the following actions:

- Clones the Source Instance on the selected VMware Datacenter for running
VMs: The source instance will be cloned in the original state for running
VMs. The recommended state is the stopped state to prevent data
inconsistencies or loss when cloning the instance.
- Imports the VM files (OVF) of the Cloned instance for running VMs, Source
Instance for stopped VMs to a temporary storage location (which can be
selected by the administrator) from KVM host if ovftool installed or
management server (can be forced by the administrator).
- Converts the OVF on the temporary storage location to KVM using virt-v2v:
CloudStack (or the administrator) selects a running and enabled KVM host to
perform the conversion from VMware to KVM using **virt-v2v**. If the binary
is not installed, then the host will fail the migration. In case it is
installed, it will perform the conversion into the temporary location to
store the converted QCOW2 disks of the instance. The disks are then moved
into the destination storage pools for the instance. The conversion is a
long-lasting process which can be set to time out by the global setting
'convert.vmware.instance.to.kvm.timeout'. The conversion processes takes a
long time because virt-v2v creates a temporary instance to inspect the
source VM and generate the converted disks with the correct
drivers. Additionally, it needs to copy the converted disks into
the temporary location.
- The converted instance is then imported into the selected KVM cluster.
The instance for conversion is selected randomly from the selected
destination cluster if no host for importing is selected.

.. note:: Please consider not restarting the management servers while importing as it will lead to the interruption of the process and you will need to start again.

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