topic Migrating from ESX to ESXi in VMware Solutions Discussions

Migrating from ESX to ESXi

paul_sprague — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 06:49:16 GMT

I currently have a VMware ESX 3.5 Virtual Infrastructure that will be migrated to vSphere 4.1. I am running version 1.2 of SMVI that runs outside of Virtual Center. As I understand it version 2.0 is integrated into vCenter. Beside that I need to also install the Host Utilities but ESXi hosts do not have a console so how do I acheive the same functionalities such as MBRAlign to align VMDK blocks in ESXi.

Migrating from ESX to ESXi

bjornkoopmans — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 06:18:00 GMT

Hi Paul,

All functionalities of ESX host utilities (including MBRAlign) are included in VSC, and more. 🙂

Kind regards,

Bjorn

Migrating from ESX to ESXi

keitha — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:34:09 GMT

As you indicated, VSC will manage the ESXi hosts for settings and paths instead of the Host Utilities Kit. Unfortunately MBRalign needs a service console. Are you useing FC, ISCSI or NFS for connectivity to the NetApp? We are working on a new tool that will allow alignments on ESXi, until then you will have to either align the VMs with a ESX server before moving them to ESXi or perhaps look at a 3rd party alignment tool that aligns from inside the VM.

Keith