What is a "cold migration" in the context of VMware?

A "cold migration" in VMware refers specifically to the process of moving a powered-off virtual machine (VM) to a new datastore or host. This approach is often used during maintenance tasks or when optimizing resource allocation in a virtualized environment. Since the VM is powered off, it ensures that no data is being actively processed during the migration, reducing the risk of data corruption or loss.

In this process, the entire VM's configuration file, virtual disk files, and any associated metadata are transferred to the new location. Cold migrations can be beneficial for balancing workloads across hosts or for data center relocations without impacting ongoing operations.

This contrasts with other migration types, such as "hot migration," which involves moving a running VM without downtime, making the distinction clear. Cold migration ensures a safer transition, especially in environments where stability is critical.