HCX Bulk Migration Stuck During Initial Sync Due to Insufficient Transfer Schedule Window

Products

• VMware HCX

Issue/Introduction

During VMware HCX Bulk Migration, the migration task remains stuck in the Initial Sync phase. No data replication begins, and the migration does not progress even after multiple retries.

User may observe:

• Migration status frozen at Initial Sync
• Migration is in DRAFT State.

Environment

HCX

Cause

The Transfer Schedule window configured for the Bulk Migration is too short to allow HCX to initiate the base synchronization.

HCX relies on the defined Transfer Schedule to determine when it is permitted to start the Initial Sync. If the allowed time window is too narrow:

• HCX cannot begin the sync before the window expires
• Base sync never initiates
• Migration appears stuck or unresponsive

Resolution

Increase the Transfer Schedule duration to provide HCX with sufficient time to start and complete the Initial Sync.

Steps to Resolve

1. Edit the Bulk Migration configuration.
2. Navigate to Transfer Options → Transfer Schedule.
3. Extend the scheduling window (recommended: several hours or an appropriately large window based on dataset size).
4. Save the updated configuration.
5. Retry the Bulk Migration.

Once the schedule window is expanded, HCX will initiate the Initial Sync successfully, and replication will proceed as expected.