Steps To Migrate to Nutanix From VMware

For customers considering VMware migration, Nutanix emerges as a superior alternative, offering unified hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) architecture, consistent multicloud operations with frequent security upgrades, and fully portable licenses across diverse cloud environments. Recognizing that complex and high-cost licensing can be a major pain point for VMware customers, Nutanix simplifies procurement with a flexible subscription-based model.

Making a migration to Nutanix from VMware solutions can address many of your infrastructure concerns. If the move seems daunting, find reassurance in the fact that Nutanix simplifies the migration process into just a few straightforward steps and we’ve helped do thousands of migrations over the years.

Key Takeaways:

• Planning your migration is as easy as mapping your current VMware® products to the corresponding Nutanix® solutions with similar functionality.
• Nutanix provides a framework on how customers can envision and plan their migrations.
• There are also additional migration destinations in the Nutanix environment that you might choose to adopt due to their functionality that goes beyond what VMware offers.
• Nutanix also provides specialized tools, expert support, and specialized education to streamline your migration and help you hit the ground running in your new ecosystem.

Step One: Planning Your Migration to Nutanix

Migrating to Nutanix facilitates that control and freedom, guided by the Nutanix philosophy of simplicity and as a provider offering one platform for any cloud, apps, and technology you want to use.

VMware to Nutanix Mapping

Planning a migration from VMware to Nutanix starts with mapping VMware products to the Nutanix solution that effectively fulfills your purpose. Some notable VMware products are as follows, along with Nutanix products that possess corresponding functionality:

• VMware Cloud Foundation -> Nutanix Cloud Platform (NCP)
• vSphere -> Nutanix AHV
• vSAN -> AOS Storage
• VMware NSX -> Flow Virtual Networking
• VMware Cloud on AWS -> Nutanix Cloud Clusters on AWS
• Azure VMware Cloud -> Nutanix Cloud Clusters on Azure
• VMware vCenter -> Nutanix Prism Central
• VMware Aria Suite -> Nutanix Cloud Manager (NCM)
• VMware Aria Operations -> NCM Intelligent Operations
• VMware Aria Automation -> NCM Self-Service
• VMware Aria Operations for Networks -> Nutanix Security Central
• VMware Data Services Manager (DSM) -> Nutanix Database Service (NDB)

One of the advantages of migrating to Nutanix is that many capabilities requiring separate VMware licenses are consolidated into the NCP Ultimate bundle (NCI Ultimate and NCM Ultimate licenses), effectively reducing procurement complexity.

Step Two: Migrating to Your Nutanix Solution Destination

While the Nutanix ecosystem is a comprehensive, robust, and consistent environment, it is also made up of various cloud tools and solutions. Based on the nature of your VMware migration, you might even choose to only move certain workloads from VMware to Nutanix.    

In cases such as these, when you have a specific goal or need that you are satisfying through your VMware migration, you can benefit from knowing which Nutanix solution is the prime destination and how to successfully migrate there.

Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI)

For VMware customers looking for a new way to satisfy on-premises virtualized and containerized infrastructure needs, the Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI) platform provides innovative solutions that address datacenter, private cloud, remote office, and edge computing requirements. VMware customers moving to NCI can follow a migration path of VMware on three-tier infrastructure to NCI or VMware with vSAN to NCI.

Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2)

If your biggest challenges pertain specifically to hybrid multicloud operations, then your goal in a Nutanix migration could be to adopt a solution that facilitates a cloud-first strategy. Selecting the Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) platform as your migration destination allows you to move from VMware VMC on AWS or AVS to a software-defined platform that allows license mobility, accurate sizing of cloud instances, and full control over critical infrastructure.  

Nutanix Cloud Manager (NCM)

As for situations when VMware Aria Suite proves needlessly complex for your licensing and hybrid multicloud management needs, migrating to Nutanix Cloud Manager (NCM) can deliver the functionality you are looking for in a simple-to-use solution that allows for quick time to value. Keep in mind that an NCM migration is not an all-or-nothing process. You can, for example, use NCM for VMware clusters that are not running on Nutanix.

Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS)

Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) is a software-defined data services platform that consolidates file, object, and block storage into a single, high-performance, dense, and cost-optimized platform, ideal for data-intensive workloads like AI/ML and Big Data Analytics. Data migration is a key part of your infrastructure transition. NUS simplifies your infrastructure transition with comprehensive migration capabilities and validated integrations.

With Nutanix, customers can migrate in phases, starting with specific workloads or business units, before extending to the full enterprise.

Step Three: Moving Workloads with Nutanix Migration Tools

When the time comes to perform the actual migration to Nutanix from a VMware solution, Nutanix provides tools designed to deliver a smooth transition.

Nutanix Move

The Nutanix Move tool simplifies the transition and reduces any risk of disruption or costly rebuilding of virtual machines. Move is a cross-hypervisor mobility solution that supports several migration paths:

• VMware ESXi to Nutanix AHV
• VMware ESXi on three-tier infrastructure to VMware ESXi on the Nutanix Cloud Platform (NCP)
• VMware ESXi to NC2 on AWS
• VMware ESXi to NC2 on Microsoft Azure
• VMware ESXi to NC2 on Google Cloud

Other Migration Tools

Other Nutanix tools that can be extremely useful in making the migration process simpler include the Nutanix Sizer tool, which enables fast and accurate infrastructure sizing for all types of workloads, and the Nutanix Collector tool, which quickly captures production workload utilization metrics.

When it comes to migrating your cloud and IT infrastructure, it’s natural to wish for everything to “just work” in the new ecosystem. Nutanix aims to provide that level of simplicity and intuitiveness through a wide range of technology partnerships. Through the Nutanix Elevate Technology Alliance Partners initiative, there are many joint solutions that provide interoperability validations and unique feature integrations for the user.

Optimize and Evolve After Migration

Completing the migration is only the beginning. Once your workloads are running on Nutanix, the next step is to optimize performance, control costs, and strengthen governance across your environment.

Nutanix Cloud Manager (NCM) Intelligent Operations provides continuous visibility into infrastructure health, resource utilization, and application performance, helping IT teams proactively address issues and avoid overspending.

Nutanix Security Central extends protection with unified monitoring, compliance enforcement, and automated policy management across hybrid environments. This helps your environment remain resilient against evolving threats without adding operational overhead.

With these capabilities, Nutanix turns migration into a launchpad for long-term success. You not only reduce complexity compared to VMware but also unlock continuous improvement in efficiency, agility, and resilience.

Get Expert Guidance at Every Step of Migration

If you are looking to migrate to Nutanix from VMware solutions, you are likely doing so because you need more simplicity or greater efficiency in your day-to-day operations, or maybe you are considering a change in procurement strategy in view of Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware. With easy-to-understand guidance and expert support at every step, even the migration itself can be a seamless process.

Download the VMware to Nutanix migration guide at any time at your convenience, or view these Top 10 Questions Answered regarding VMware to Nutanix migration. The Nutanix Customer Xperience program also provides further education, services, and a “fast track” deployment support system.

Nutanix Cloud Platform offers unparalleled flexibility and choice while eliminating vendor lock-in. With seamless support for existing VMware environments through unified management, it stands out as a superior alternative – providing one platform to run apps and manage data anywhere.

Access the services and in-depth information necessary to migrate from VMware to Nutanix.

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