Importing VMs from VMware to MultiPortal

Following Broadcom’s 2023 acquisition of VMware, many organizations have been seeking alternatives for their virtualization needs. Proxmox has emerged as a compelling open-source hypervisor choice, and MultiPortal serves as the multi-tenant management layer above it—similar to how Cloud Director operates above vCenter.

One of the biggest concerns when considering a platform switch is migration. MultiPortal helps take that fear out of the equation. Its built-in import tool lets you pull VMs straight from your Proxmox cluster.

This guide walks through a two-step process: first, transferring VMs from VMware ESXi to Proxmox, then importing those machines into MultiPortal’s Virtual Data Center.

Part 1: Importing from VMware to Proxmox

Step 1 - Initial Setup

Ensure you have a virtual machine on your ESXi host that you want to migrate.

Step 2 - Configure ESXi Connection

Navigate to Datacenter > Storage in Proxmox. Click Add and select ESXi. Provide a custom ID for your import storage device and enter your ESXi connection credentials.

Step 3 - View Available VMs

Expand Storage in the Proxmox sidebar. Select Virtual Guests to display all available VMs from your ESXi server.

Step 4 - Import the VM

Choose your target VM and click Import. Proxmox presents a configuration screen allowing resource customization, though default settings are typically acceptable.

Step 5 - Wait for Completion

The import process requires time proportional to the virtual disk size. Wait for the task to complete.

Step 6 - Power On and Verify

Navigate to the imported VM in Proxmox and power it on. The machine is now ready for MultiPortal integration.

For more details, check out the Proxmox migration documentation.

Part 2: Importing VM into MultiPortal

Prerequisites

Log in to MultiPortal as a Service Provider Administrator.

Step 1 - Access Import Tool

Navigate to Settings > Import > Virtual Machines.

Step 2 - Select Infrastructure

Choose your Proxmox Datacenter and proceed. Select the target Tenant and Virtual Data Center for VM placement.

Step 3 - Choose VM

Select your previously imported VM from the available list.

Step 4 - Confirm Import

Review the final confirmation details and click Submit to complete the process.

Step 5 - Access Your VM

The imported VM is now visible and manageable within MultiPortal.

For more information, see the MultiPortal Import Documentation.

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Are you a Cloud Director user affected by the ripple effects from VMware’s acquisition? Contact us to discuss how MultiPortal can help with your transition.