Performing a Staged Application Migration

A staged application migration involves three machines: migrating an application from a source machine to an intermediary machine, and from the intermediary machine to a final destination machine via a compressed container, called a .cap file.

VirtaMove does not support migrations between 32-bit machines; therefore, the intermediary and destination servers must be 64-bit machines. For example, your intermediary machine can be Windows 2008 R2 and your destination machine Windows 2012 R2 - except for https://virtamove.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/VDOC/pages/311230707/Performing+a+Staged+IIS+Application+Migration?search_id=43c2a950-a96e-4686-8872-e2f3752c5b82, where both intermediary and destination machines must be running the same operating system and NT version. 

The following procedure uses Microsoft SQL Server as an example.

To Migrate an Application to a Third Machine

  1. Complete all pre-requisites listed in https://virtamove.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/VDOC/pages/310706978, and then tether your application to the intermediary machine using the instructions in https://virtamove.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/VDOC/pages/311263346.

  2. Optionally, set the computer name of the intermediary machine to the same computer name as the destination machine.

  3. When you have completed the migration, open the Administrative Console by double-clicking the Administrative Console shortcut on your desktop.

  4. Click the Undock button if necessary, then click the Compress button. This creates the .cap file.

  5. Retrieve the .cap file. Go to:

    C:\appliances\<Container_Name>.cap
  6. Copy the compressed file to the final destination machine in C:\appliances\.

  7. On the destination machine, open the Administrative Console.

  8. Select the compressed file, and then click Uncompress.

  9. If the intermediary and destination machine names are the same, go to step 13.

  10. Select the uncompressed container, and then click the COTF button. The Config-on-the_fly window opens.

  11. In the Config File Path field, browse to the path of your COTF file if you are not using the StandardCOTF.xml file.

  12. Enter the host name of the intermediary machine in the Arguments field, then click Save Property and then click Run.

  13. Click the Dock button to dock the container. If you have not yet activated your VirtaMove license key, you will now be prompted to do so. See for information.

  14. You can now run the SQL rehosting scripts. Right-click the container and select Launch Prompt. This opens the container Command Prompt. Type the following:

    cd \Program Files\VirtaMove\EXTRAS\SQLServer SQLReHostScript.bat <DB service name>

    <DB service name> is the service name. You must specify it as an argument. For instance, for SQL Server:

    cd \Program Files\VirtaMove\EXTRAS\SQLServer SQLRehostScript.bat MSSQLSERVER

    Once the script has completed, the second command prompt window that appeared will close automatically.

  15. Test the application. See for information.

  16. When you are satisfied that the application is performing correctly, click Undock and then optionally run Dissolve: