If you’re looking for a solution which is likely to give a minimum downtime during migration process, you might want to consider implementation of Veeam Backup & Replication with its “Quick Migration” functionality.
Migration process performed by VB&R looks like this:
1. First, .vmx file is copied to the target host and VM is registered.
2. Then, VM snapshot is triggered by VB&R and VM disk content is copied to the new destination.
3. In the end, VM state and changes made after snapshot creation are moved to a new location.
• If you move a VM between two hosts with compatible CPUs, Veeam Backup & Replication uses SmartSwitch — it suspends a VM to move its state file and changes made after snapshot creation. The VM is then resumed on the new host. This ensures minimum downtime, and completely eliminates any data loss during migration.
• If you move a VM between two hosts with non-compatible CPUs, Veeam Backup & Replication stops the VM to move changes made after snapshot creation, and then starts the VM on the new host.
For doing it: add both of the ESXi hosts to VB&R console, go to the Virtual Machine node, right-click necessary VM, and perform QuickMigration.
This feature is available in Veeam Backup and Replication Free Edition.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.