Migrating from VMware to Enterprise Cloud: Testing and Cutover Strategies

Mainstream alternatives for migrating from VMware include virtualization, enterprise cloud, hyperconverged infrastructure, and cloud-native container cloud solutions. Currently, across Europe and Asia, many regions and countries are seeking VMware alternatives to reduce cost pressures resulting from Broadcom’s adjustments to VMware’s product sales model.

But how should testing be conducted when migrating from VMware to enterprise cloud platforms? What should be considered in post-VMware migration testing? What preparations are needed for testing VMware migration alternatives? This technical blog will provide some insights.

Thorough Preparation and Testing Before Migration

Before formally executing the migration from VMware virtual machines to enterprise cloud platforms, comprehensive testing preparation is the cornerstone of successful migration.

Functional Testing

Launch test virtual machines in the target enterprise cloud environment (e.g., ZStack Cloud platform) to verify basic operating system functionality, network connectivity, and storage access capabilities. This includes confirming virtual machines can boot correctly, network configurations (such as IP addresses, DNS resolution) work properly, and can seamlessly access storage resources (e.g., ZStack Software-Defined Storage, including ZStack Ceph Enterprise or ZStack High Performance Storage).

Performance Benchmark Testing

Migration should not only achieve functional parity but also ensure post-migration performance meets business requirements. Run professional performance testing tools (e.g., fio, iperf3, sysbench) on the target platform (like ZStack Cloud) and strictly compare with performance baselines from the source VMware environment. ZStack Software-Defined Storage is renowned for its industry-leading performance, reliability, and manageability, helping large enterprises and operators build PB-scale storage pools, which deserves particular attention during performance verification.

Application Testing

For migrated test virtual machines, comprehensive application functionality and integration testing must be performed. This should cover all critical business application workflows to ensure they operate normally in the new enterprise cloud environment and integrate correctly with other systems (like databases, message queues, etc.). Considering ZStack provides various advanced infrastructure platforms like ZStack RDS (supporting 10+ database services including MySQL and Oracle) and ZStack AIOS (private AI infrastructure platform), integration testing for applications leveraging these services is especially crucial.

Migration Dry Run

Performing complete migration process dry runs with non-critical business virtual machines is indispensable. This not only validates the effectiveness of migration tools and processes but also identifies and resolves potential issues before formal migration. Dry runs should include rollback testing to ensure quick recovery to the original VMware environment if problems arise. ZStack ZSphere supports seamless V2V migration, and ZStack provides practical guides and risk management guidelines for VMware to ZStack migration, offering valuable references during dry runs.

Execution of Formal Migration Window and Rigorous Verification

After completing all pre-migration testing and gaining confidence in the solution, you can proceed to the formal migration window execution phase.

Communication and Coordination

Before opening the formal migration window, clearly notify all stakeholders, including business departments, operations teams, and technical support teams, about detailed migration plans and time windows. Full communication helps ensure all parties are prepared and can provide timely support during migration. ZStack’s technical support center and training certification services can assist customers with effective internal coordination and knowledge dissemination.

Migration Execution

Strictly execute migration operations according to the predetermined migration plan and selected migration tool processes. For example, ZStack ZSphere provides video demonstrations of virtual machine migration, covering various scenarios like live migration, hot migration, cross-cluster/data center migration, and failure-driven migration, offering intuitive guidance for practical operations.

Final Data Synchronization and Cutover

For migrations using online or replication methods, perform a final incremental data synchronization to ensure data consistency between target and source platforms. Subsequently, execute the final business cutover, typically including starting target virtual machines, shutting down source virtual machines, and performing DNS cutover to direct business traffic to the new enterprise cloud platform. ZStack’s disaster recovery solutions support technologies like snapshots, block data replication, CDP (Continuous Data Protection), and backup, ensuring data integrity and consistency during migration.

Rigorous Verification

After business cutover, immediately conduct rigorous verification. This includes validating critical business functions, network connectivity testing, and data consistency checks. This phase requires quick confirmation that business operations can run normally and data is accurate. ZStack CMP (Cloud Management Platform) provides multi-cloud integration, automated operations, and advanced monitoring dashboards, offering powerful support for rapid post-migration verification.

Foolproof Rollback Plan

Even with thorough testing, developing a clear, executable rollback plan remains a critical component of risk management when migrating VMware virtual machines to enterprise cloud platforms.

• Define clear rollback triggers: Clearly specify conditions requiring rollback initiation, such as when critical business functions cannot be restored for extended periods or serious data consistency issues arise.
• Document detailed rollback steps: Develop detailed rollback operation guides, clearly outlining how to quickly switch business back to the source VMware environment. This may require retaining source VMware virtual machines for a certain period as contingency.
• Test rollback procedures: During migration dry runs, be sure to actually test rollback processes. Ensure the rollback solution is feasible and efficient for rapid emergency response, minimizing business interruption time.

ZStack: Let Every Company Have Its Own Cloud

When enterprises embark on the journey of migrating VMware virtual machines to enterprise cloud platforms, choosing a reliable partner is crucial. ZStack, as a provider focused on cloud infrastructure software, is committed to “letting every company have its own cloud.”

ZStack offers comprehensive VMware to ZStack solutions, covering three main paths: server virtualization, private cloud, and hyperconvergence. With its “Simple, Strong, Scalable, Smart” (4S) characteristics in product design and technical implementation, ZStack is dedicated to providing enterprises with platforms that are easy to install/deploy, simple to operate/maintain, highly concurrent, elastically scalable, and intelligently managed, helping customers seamlessly complete VMware virtual machine migration to enterprise cloud platforms while enjoying superior performance and management experiences.

Currently, ZStack’s services cover over 30 countries and regions globally, earning the trust of more than 4,000 leading enterprises with rich industry solutions and success cases. Whether building efficient private clouds (e.g., ZStack Cloud platform), seeking powerful software-defined storage (ZStack Software-Defined Storage), or embracing cloud-native futures (ZStack Zaku), ZStack can provide strong technical support and mature products.

FAQ

Q: Why should enterprises consider migrating VMware virtual machines to enterprise cloud platforms?
A: Main reasons include reducing cost pressures from Broadcom’s adjustments to VMware’s product sales model and seeking more flexible, scalable IT infrastructure. Migrating VMware virtual machines to enterprise cloud platforms helps enterprises achieve cost optimization, improve operational efficiency, and gain richer cloud service capabilities.

Q: What are the most critical testing steps before migrating VMware virtual machines to enterprise cloud platforms?
A: The most critical testing steps include functional testing, performance benchmark testing, application testing, and migration dry runs. These tests aim to comprehensively verify target environment compatibility, performance, normal operation of business applications, and through dry runs, ensure seamless migration processes and effective rollback solutions.

Q: For running businesses, how to ensure data consistency during VMware virtual machine migration to enterprise cloud platforms?
A: For online or replication migrations, final incremental data synchronization is needed to ensure consistency with target data. Additionally, disaster recovery technologies like snapshots, block data replication, CDP (Continuous Data Protection), and backup can further ensure data security and consistency.

Q: After migrating VMware virtual machines to enterprise cloud platforms, how to verify normal business operations?
A: Post-cutover, immediately conduct rigorous verification including critical business function validation, network connectivity testing, and data consistency checks. This requires close collaboration between business, operations, and technical teams to quickly confirm business processes, network access, and data integrity meet expectations.