How to migrate VMs from gen1 to Gen2 on different azure resource group using backups

Agha Ali Nawaz 51

We want to migrate our existing VMs from gen1 to Gen2 on different azure resource group using backups without disturbing existing VMs, we have VMs backups so is it possible to migrate disk storage of OS and data from backups to Gen2?

Regards,

Agha

SadiqhAhmed-MSFT 39,566 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2023-07-26T11:32:56.72+00:00

@Agha Ali Nawaz We haven't heard back from you. Please reply if you have any questions in this matter and we will gladly continue the discussion.
McGlorial Tshabalala 5 Reputation points

2023-07-26T11:39:51.8966667+00:00
Here's a solution to migrate your existing VMs from Generation 1 (Gen1) to Generation 2 (Gen2) on different Azure resource groups using backups without disturbing the existing VMs:

Step 1: Verify Backup Data

Ensure that you have valid and up-to-date backups of your Gen1 VMs, including both OS disks and data disks. Verify that the backups are successfully completed and can be restored.

Step 2: Create Gen2 VMs

In the target Azure resource group, create new Generation 2 (Gen2) VMs with the desired specifications and configuration. You can create these VMs without starting them initially.

Step 3: Restore VM Backups

In the Azure Portal, go to the Azure Backup service.

Select "Recovery Services vaults" from the left-hand menu, and then select your existing backup vault that contains the backups of the Gen1 VMs.

Inside the recovery services vault, go to the "Backup Items" section and select the VM you want to restore.

Initiate a restore operation for the VM. During the restore process, you will be prompted to choose the target resource group and the target VM (which should be the newly created Gen2 VM).

Step 4: Restore OS Disk

As part of the restore process, choose to restore the OS disk of the Gen1 VM to the newly created Gen2 VM.

Azure Backup will restore the OS disk to the new VM, effectively migrating the VM to Generation 2.

Step 5: Restore Data Disks

Once the OS disk is restored and the Gen2 VM is operational, you can proceed to restore the data disks.

Repeat the restore process for each data disk, attaching them to the Gen2 VM as needed.

Step 6: Verify and Test

Once the restoration of all disks is complete, verify that the Gen2 VM is functioning correctly and all data is intact.

Test the VM thoroughly to ensure that all applications and services are running as expected.

Step 7: Decommission Gen1 VMs (Optional)

If the migration is successful, and you have verified that the Gen2 VMs are working correctly, you can decommission the original Gen1 VMs.

Important Notes:

Before proceeding with any production migration, thoroughly test this process in a non-production environment to ensure its success and identify any potential issues.

Make sure you have a backup of critical data and configurations before attempting any migration.

While this approach focuses on using Azure Backup for restoring the VMs, there are other migration strategies available that may better suit your specific scenario. Evaluate them based on your requirements and constraints.

Remember, migrating VMs between generations involves changes in the underlying virtual hardware, so thorough testing and planning are essential to ensure a smooth transition without data loss or disruptions.

Hope this helps!
Murthy, Krishna 0 Reputation points

2023-11-24T07:53:57.02+00:00

error.pngHello MCGlorial- I have tried this option unfortunately it does not worked for me and getting this error.
Deokuliar, Sidharth 0 Reputation points

2023-12-05T11:37:01.5266667+00:00

There is no option to choose the target vm, while restoring just the target rg is there.
SadiqhAhmed-MSFT 39,566 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2023-12-06T14:00:43.6+00:00

@Deokuliar, Sidharth If the suggestions did not help resolve your issue, I suggest you contact Azure technical support for further assistance.
EY 0 Reputation points

2024-05-06T18:11:43.7066667+00:00

It appears that upgrading from Gen1 to Gen2 will be possible in the not too distant future:

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/private-preview-upgrade-existing-azure-gen1-vms-to-gen2trusted-launch/

Accepted answer

Manu Philip 17,021 Reputation points MVP

2023-07-23T09:23:04.03+00:00

I am afraid to say that, you can't convert a Gen1 virtual machine backup to Gen2 Virtual machine. See the following details says by Microsoft documentaion

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
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1 person found this answer helpful.
Agha Ali Nawaz 51 Reputation points

2023-07-23T09:56:27.6066667+00:00

Thanks, it means we need to create all VMs, install all software and migrate data? there should be the way, there is option available in Oracle cloud why not here?

Regards,

Agha

Manu Philip 17,021 Reputation points MVP

2023-07-23T10:10:54.38+00:00

As azure is not supporting a direct conversion, you can think of alternate ways as follows

Convert the Azure Gen1 VM as VHD and import it to your local Hyper V environment. Hyper V supports Gen1 to Gen2 migration (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-365/enterprise/device-images-convert-generation-2). The Image can be used to create a Gen2 VM in azure

Convert the Gen1 VM with the help of an temporary Gen2 VM. I see a reference here: https://charbelnemnom.com/migrate-gen1-to-gen2-vms-on-azure/. I didn't try it by myself.

SadiqhAhmed-MSFT 39,566 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2023-07-24T14:15:55.6233333+00:00

@Agha Ali Nawaz Just checking in to see if you got a chance to see the previous response and if it helped, I would request you to "Accept Answer and Upvote" so that the relevancy of this post will improve when anyone in the community search for a similar query.
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