How do I migrate a virtual machine from VMware ESXi to QNAP Virtualization Station
Last modified date:
2025-09-19
Applicable Products
- Virtualization Station
Overview
Migrating virtual machines (VMs) from VMware ESXi to QNAP Virtualization Station allows you to consolidate workloads and manage VMs directly on your QNAP device. Maintaining the same VLAN configuration ensures network consistency and minimizes downtime during migration.
Procedure
Important: Before starting the migration, back up your virtual machine and important data to prevent data loss.
- Export the VM from ESXi:
- Export the VM as an OVF (Open Virtualization Format)/OVA (Open Virtual Appliance) or other compatible image file from ESXi.
- Ensure the export includes all required virtual disks and configuration files.
- Import the VM into Virtualization Station:
- In Virtualization Station, go to Overview and click Create VM or use Import.
- Follow on-screen instructions to select and import the VM.
- Configure the VM name, OS type, and storage options as needed.
- Configure network settings to match VLANs:
If your original VM does not use a VLAN, you can skip this step.- Create or modify a virtual switch with VLAN:
- Go to Interfaces in the left panel.
- Click on 3-dot popup menu at the left of the physical network adapter you want to configure
- Select Add VLAN from the menu.
- Enable VLAN and enter the desired VLAN ID (for example,
10). - Click Apply to save the settings.
- Assign the virtual switch to your VM in Virtualization Station:
- Open Virtualization Station.
- Select the VM you want to configure and click Edit.
- In the Network section, select the virtual network adapter (vNIC).
- Choose the virtual switch you configured with the VLAN ID.
- Save the VM settings.
- Create or modify a virtual switch with VLAN:
- Start the VM and verify connectivity:
- Power on the imported VM in Virtualization Station.
- Confirm that the VM retains its network settings and can communicate on the intended VLAN as expected.
- Test key applications and workloads on the VM to ensure full functionality after migration.
If you need to synchronize the VM’s clock or collect its IP address, install the QNAP Guest Agent by inserting the Guest Tool CD image in the VM settings.
Limitations
- Some VM features or configurations from ESXi may not be fully compatible with Virtualization Station. Test the VM after migration to ensure full functionality.
Further Reading
How to Import an ESXi Virtual Machine into Virtualization Station?
What VM files can I import to Virtualization Station?
How to set VLAN ID in NAS LAN adapter?
Using QNAP NAS VLAN with Virtualization Deployment
