How to migrate a physical VM to Azure?

Question

How to migrate a physical VM to Azure?

Jut-2755 40

I'm currently testing the Azure Migrate tool for future use. I managed to migrate a virtualized VM with VMware, but now I want to try it with a physical VM. I'm following the step-by-step instructions offered by Azure for this, installing the appliance using PowerShell and configuring everything. My problem is that when I try to perform replication from the portal, I get an error every time. It simply says "Error completing the operation" and doesn't offer any other description. The configuration on the VM appliance completed successfully, so I don't fully understand where the error is.

Is there by chance a current video showing how to perform this process or where my error was?

Vinod Pittala 3,695 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-06-25T06:59:41.92+00:00

Hello Jut-2755,

I wanted to check whether you've attempted the replication using the Replication Appliance or the Migrate Appliance. It's important to note that only the Replication Appliance supports server replication.

For reference, please review the following documentation on replicating machines: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/tutorial-migrate-physical-virtual-machines?view=migrate#replicate-machines

Additionally, kindly confirm whether the appliance has been configured according to the guidance provided here:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-replication-appliance?view=migrate-classic

Looking forward to your confirmation.

Thanks
Jut-2755 40 Reputation points

2025-06-25T15:53:49.8166667+00:00

Hello, at least in terms of hardware I followed it step by step, I was looking now at the replication side to see if I found the more detailed error and indeed there are problems with the installation of the agent, I enabled ports, checked connections and everything is Ok but the mobility agent is not installed so I was thinking about the option of installing it manually but from the little I read now it said to look for something in the Microsoft Azure Site Recovery folder but that folder was not created in any VM. Now I want to read more in depth to understand it better but if you can explain it to me in a simpler way better.
Jut-2755 40 Reputation points

2025-06-26T21:22:22.5533333+00:00

Thanks that work!
Vinod Pittala 3,695 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-06-27T04:54:02.2966667+00:00

Hello Jut-2755,

I'm glad that the provided solution has worked for you.

Please do not forget to "Accept the answer” and “upvote it” wherever the information provided helps you, this can be beneficial to other community members.it would be greatly appreciated and helpful to others. Thanks

1 answer

Your answer

Vinod Pittala 3,695 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-06-25T06:59:41.92+00:00

Hello Jut-2755,

I wanted to check whether you've attempted the replication using the Replication Appliance or the Migrate Appliance. It's important to note that only the Replication Appliance supports server replication.

For reference, please review the following documentation on replicating machines: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/tutorial-migrate-physical-virtual-machines?view=migrate#replicate-machines

Additionally, kindly confirm whether the appliance has been configured according to the guidance provided here:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-replication-appliance?view=migrate-classic

Looking forward to your confirmation.

Thanks
Jut-2755 40 Reputation points

2025-06-25T15:53:49.8166667+00:00

Hello, at least in terms of hardware I followed it step by step, I was looking now at the replication side to see if I found the more detailed error and indeed there are problems with the installation of the agent, I enabled ports, checked connections and everything is Ok but the mobility agent is not installed so I was thinking about the option of installing it manually but from the little I read now it said to look for something in the Microsoft Azure Site Recovery folder but that folder was not created in any VM. Now I want to read more in depth to understand it better but if you can explain it to me in a simpler way better.
Jut-2755 40 Reputation points

2025-06-26T21:22:22.5533333+00:00

Thanks that work!
Vinod Pittala 3,695 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-06-27T04:54:02.2966667+00:00

Hello Jut-2755,

I'm glad that the provided solution has worked for you.

Please do not forget to "Accept the answer” and “upvote it” wherever the information provided helps you, this can be beneficial to other community members.it would be greatly appreciated and helpful to others. Thanks

Answer 1

Hello Jut-2755,

If the Mobility Agent is not successfully installed on the source machine, replication to Azure will not be possible. Since this is a physical server, installing the Mobility Agent on the source machine is mandatory for replication to work.

To understand the importance of this agent and how to install it, please refer to the following documentation:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/tutorial-migrate-physical-virtual-machines?view=migrate#install-the-mobility-service-agent

Additionally, I recommend reviewing the complete migration tutorial to ensure all steps are followed correctly:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/tutorial-migrate-physical-virtual-machines?view=migrate

Please let me know if you encounter any issues during the installation or need further assistance.

Please do not forget to “upvote it” wherever the information provided helps you, this can be beneficial to other community members.it would be greatly appreciated and helpful to others. Thanks

Share via

How to migrate a physical VM to Azure?

1 answer

Your answer