VMware HCX (Hybrid Cloud Extension) enables seamless migration between on-premises VMware environments and Azure VMware Solution (AVS). This guide walks through installation, activation, and configuration of VMware HCX in AVS.

Step 1: Prerequisites

Before installing HCX in Azure VMware Solution, ensure you have:

• Azure VMware Solution (AVS) deployed
• vCenter and NSX-T access in AVS
• On-premises vSphere 6.5+ environment
• Configured ExpressRoute/VPN between on-prem and AVS
• HCX licenses (provided by Microsoft AVS)

Step 2: Enable VMware HCX in AVS

1. Activate HCX in AVS

1. Go to Azure Portal → Open Azure VMware Solution.
2. Select your AVS Private Cloud.
3. Navigate to Add-ons → Click HCX.
4. Click Activate HCX.

2. Access HCX Manager

1. After activation, go to Azure VMware Solution.
2. Navigate to Add-ons → HCX and click HCX Manager URL.
3. Log in with vCenter administrator credentials.

Step 3: Deploy HCX in On-Premises vSphere

1. Download HCX Connector OVA

1. Go to My VMware and download VMware HCX Connector OVA.
2. Log in to on-prem vCenter.
3. Deploy the HCX OVA in the on-premises vSphere environment.

2. Configure HCX Connector in vCenter

1. Power on the HCX VM and open the console.
2. Configure IP settings, DNS, and NTP.
3. Log in to HCX UI at: https://<HCX_On-Prem_IP>:9443
4. Register HCX Connector with vCenter and NSX Manager.
5. Click Activate and enter the HCX license key (provided by Microsoft).

Step 4: Establish Site Pairing Between On-Prem and AVS

1. Create Site Pairing in HCX Manager

1. Open HCX Manager in AVS.
2. Navigate to Site Pairing → Click Add Site Pairing.
3. Enter the On-Prem HCX IP and credentials.
4. Click Connect and verify pairing status.

Step 5: Configure HCX Services for Migration

1. Enable HCX Network Extension

1. In HCX Manager, go to Services → Network Extension.
2. Click Extend Network.
3. Select on-prem networks to extend to AVS.
4. Click Extend.

2. Enable Mobility Optimized Networking (Optional)

• Allows efficient traffic routing for migrated workloads.

3. Enable HCX Migration Services

1. Navigate to HCX Manager → Migration.
2. Enable Bulk Migration, vMotion, or Cold Migration.
3. Configure Mobility Groups for workload migration.

Step 6: Validate Migration Connectivity

1. Test vMotion between on-prem and AVS.
2. Ping workloads to verify network connectivity.
3. Ensure routing works via ExpressRoute/VPN.

Step 7: Migrate Virtual Machines to AVS

1. In HCX Manager, go to Migration.
2. Click Migrate VM.
3. Select on-prem VM and choose AVS as destination.
4. Choose migration type:
   • Cold Migration (powered-off VMs)
   • Bulk Migration (scheduled, minimal downtime)
   • HCX vMotion (live migration, zero downtime)
5. Click Start Migration.
6. Monitor migration in HCX Dashboard.