How to perform NVDS to VDS migration for a few ESXi transport nodes only

Products

• VMware NSX

Issue/Introduction

• You do not want to perform the NVDS to VDS migration at cluster level
• You want to perform NVDS to VDS migration on one or few set of ESXi transport node at a time

Environment

VMware NSX-T Data Center 

Cause

This article talks about steps that you can follow to perform NVDS to VDS migration on one or few set of ESXi transport node at a time

Resolution

The below steps can be followed to perform NVDS to VDS migration on single or few ESXi host at a time. 

NVDS to VDS migration via command line:

1. Put the ESXi host into maintenance mode
2. Login to NSX Manager node VM as admin user
3. Run the command vds-migrate precheck to verify that the hosts are ready for migration
4. Run the command vds-migrate show-topology to retrieve the recommended topology
5. Run the command vds-migrate apply-topology to create a VDS with the recommended topology
   Note: Validate if the VDS is created on the vCenter
6. Login to the NSX manager node vm as root user
7. Using VIM editor, create a file /opt/tnid in the NSX manager node and update the ESXi transport node UUID in the file
   Note: Only the required ESXi transport node UUID should be added in the /opt/tnid file. 
8. Switch back to the admin user 
9. Run the command vds-migrate tn-list /opt/tnid  to initiate the NVDS to VDS migration 
   Note: NVDS to VDS migration will be performed on all the ESXi host UUID updated in the /opt/tnid file 
10. Once the migration task is completed, take the ESXi host out of maintenance mode
11. Confirm the ESXi host is added to the new CVDS created in the vCenter
12. Repeat steps 7 to 11 only for the next batch of ESXi transport nodes

If you face any issue during the process, you can raise a support request with Broadcom support team by following Creating and managing Broadcom support cases.

In case where a vDS already exists, the NVDS switch is only used for NSX (no other vmknics), and you only need to migrate small number of hosts, if the environment allows, you can re-prepare the hosts for NSX:

1. Put the host that is to be migrated to Maintenance mode. 
2. Using NSX UI, uninstall NSX.
3. Re-prepare the host for NSX, configure the host on a vDS. 

Additional Information

If you are planning to do the NVDS to VDS migration at cluster level, follow Migrate Host Switch to vSphere Distributed Switch NSX document.