One of the most common questions I get is: “How do we move our VMware virtual machines to Azure without losing our minds (or our data)?”. In this article, I’m going to walk you through the exact process I use to migrate VMware VMs to Azure using the Azure Migrate tool.
How To Migrate Vmware Vm To Azure Step By Step
Comparison: On-Premise VMware vs. Azure Infrastructure
| Feature | On-Premise VMware | Azure Virtual Machines |
| Maintenance | Manual hardware & cooling | Managed by Microsoft |
| Scalability | Limited by physical hardware | Near-infinite (on-demand) |
| Payment Model | Large upfront investment | Pay-as-you-go / Reserved |
| Security Updates | You manage the host | Microsoft manages the host fabric |
Phase 1: Pre-Migration Planning and Prerequisite
You shouldn’t migrate to Azure without a solid assessment. This is where most people trip up. I always recommend the Agentless Migration method for VMware; it’s cleaner and requires less “touching” of the actual VMs.
1. Azure Setup
First, you need an Azure subscription. If you’re working for a US-based corporation, you likely have an Enterprise Agreement (EA).
- Create a Resource Group: Give it a clear name like
prod-migration-rg. - Permissions: Ensure your account has Contributor or Owner permissions on the subscription.
2. VMware Requirements
Your on-premises environment needs to be ready.
- vCenter Server: Version 6.5, 6.7, 7.0, or 8.0.
- Permissions: Create a v-Center user with read-only permissions (at minimum) for discovery.
Phase 2: Setting Up the Azure Migrate Project
- Search for Azure Migrate in the top search bar.
- Select Servers, databases and web apps > Create project.
- Choose your subscription and the resource group we created earlier.
- Project Details: Name it something like
WestUS-VM-Migration. For the geography, I usually select United States to ensure data residency compliance. - Click Create. Check out the screenshot below for your reference.
Adding the Discovery Tool
Once the project is live, you need to add a tool. Click Discover under the “Discovery and assessment” section. When asked “Are your machines virtualized?”, select Yes, with VMware vSphere hypervisor.