Preseed VM process for ESXi based replication (4046289)

You have a need to preseed the replica VM so that the replication job will only replicate the changes when the replication job runs.

For more current information on this topic, please refer to Knowledge Base Article 83953

For the replication job to replicate only the changes the vzmap needs to present in the VM directory on the target host (or in the VAs for ESXi host). The vzmap file is created during the first replication run and is updated as the replication job is ran. If no vzmap is present a full replication is going to be run. Backing the VM up and restoring the VM on the target host is not going to allow you to preseed the VM. Please see the resolution section for the proper way to preseed a replica VM. 

Please follow the steps below to properly preseed the replica VM. A couple different options exist.

WORKAROUND 1

1. Replicate the source VM at the production site to another ESX(i) host in the production site.
2. Once the replication is complete move the replica VM directory to external storage from the target production ESX(i) host. (Could be done with winSCP)
3. Move the external storage to the DR site.
4. Move the replica VM directory to a datastore on the target ESX(i) host at the DR site.
5. Register the replica VM on the target ESX(i) host at the DR site.
6. Edit the replication job to point to the target ESX(i) host at the DR site.
7. On the ESX(i) host selection screen click on the pre-seeded VM UUID and select the replica VM.
8. Run the replication job once again and this time only the changes will be replicated.

WORKAROUND 2

1. Bring the DR host to the production site.
2. Add the DR host to the vRanger inventory.
3. Setup a replication job to replicate the source VM to the target DR host at the production site.
4. Replicate the source VM at the production site to the DR ESX(i) host in the production site.
5. Bring the DR host back to the DR site.
6. Update the DR host in the vRanger inventory.
7. Edit the replication job to point to the target DR ESX host at the DR site.
8. On the ESX(i) host selection screen click on the pre-seeded VM UUID and select the replica VM.
9. Run the replication job once again and this time only the changes will be replicated.