AZ-800 Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure Exam

Configure and Validate Secure Live Migration

Secure live migration lets you move running Hyper-V virtual machines with little to no downtime, keeping applications available during transfer. This process protects data security and maintains service continuity by moving memory, CPU state, and storage over the network. It is crucial for patching hosts or balancing workloads without interrupting users. By planning migrations carefully, you can reduce risk and ensure that VMs keep running smoothly.

There are three main types of live migration to consider:

• Live Migration: Moves a VM’s state and memory between hosts that share storage, minimizing the transfer of disk data.
• Shared Nothing Live Migration: Transfers all VM files and state over the network when hosts do not share storage.
• Export/Import Methods: Involves exporting a VM’s files from one host and importing them to another, typically used for offline migrations or backups.

To secure these migrations, configure strong authentication and encryption:

• Kerberos Constrained Delegation: Uses Kerberos tickets to delegate permissions securely without exposing credentials.
• Certificate-Based Authentication: Relies on trusted certificates to validate the identity of hosts and encrypt migration traffic.
• SMB Encryption: Ensures that all data sent over the network stays encrypted, preventing eavesdropping.
• Migration Compression: Reduces the amount of data transferred, speeding up the process and lowering network load.

After migrating a VM, you must validate that everything worked correctly. Check the event logs on both source and destination hosts for any migration errors or warnings. Use health reports to review performance metrics and confirm that the VM is running as expected. Regular validation helps catch issues early and keeps your virtual infrastructure reliable.

Conclusion

In summary, secure live migration of Hyper-V VMs relies on choosing the right migration type, setting up strong authentication, and enabling encryption. You also use tools like event logs and health reports to validate each migration’s success. By mastering these steps, you ensure that VMs move safely and remain available, supporting a robust hybrid infrastructure.