Federal Government
VMware to Hyper-V Migration
Modernizing virtual infrastructure with Microsoft Hyper-V and SCVMM.
Client Profile
CPAC required a more flexible and sustainable virtualization platform to support its business applications, server workloads, and virtual desktop environment.
Arcadion helped CPAC transition from VMware to Microsoft Hyper-V using a phased migration approach supported by System Center Virtual Machine Manager, Windows Server Failover Clustering, enterprise storage, and PowerShell automation.
The project reduced migration risk, improved infrastructure management, and established a scalable Microsoft-based platform for future modernization.
The Challenge
More Than Moving Virtual Machines
CPAC operated a mature VMware environment supporting a combination of production servers, internal applications, virtual desktops, and specialized GPU-enabled workloads. A large, single cutover would have created unnecessary operational risk. CPAC needed a controlled migration strategy that allowed the new platform to be tested before production services were moved. The project needed to address:
The Arcadion Approach
A Phased Virtualization Modernization Plan
Focused on risk reduction, service continuity, and long-term manageability.
The engagement began with a review of the existing VMware environment, covering hosts, clusters, virtual machines, storage, networking, applications, virtual desktops, and operational dependencies. Workloads were then classified by business impact, technical complexity, operating system, storage requirements, and migration method. This determined which systems could be converted directly, which required additional testing, and which were better suited to a controlled rebuild.
Arcadion designed a Microsoft Hyper-V platform using Windows Server Failover Clustering and Cluster Shared Volumes, built to expand gradually as workloads were removed from VMware. The architecture included:
Before migrating production systems, Arcadion built a proof-of-concept Hyper-V cluster. The team validated storage connectivity, networking, cluster operations, Live Migration, virtual machine placement, host maintenance, failover behaviour, backup readiness, and monitoring. A selected workload was migrated and tested by the CPAC technical team, and lessons from the pilot were used to improve the production migration process.
Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager was deployed to provide centralized management of the Hyper-V environment, giving CPAC a single platform to manage:
The VMware environment was also connected to SCVMM to support workload assessment and migration planning.
Production workloads were migrated in planned waves instead of a single large cutover. Lower-risk systems were migrated first; more complex and business-sensitive workloads were moved after the platform and process had been proven. Each migration included:
Virtual desktop and GPU-enabled systems were handled as a separate workstream. Rather than forcing these systems through a standard server conversion, Arcadion assessed their graphics, desktop image, user profile, application, and driver requirements. Where necessary, components were rebuilt on the Hyper-V platform to avoid carrying forward unsupported VMware-specific dependencies.
Arcadion developed PowerShell automation to bring consistency to repetitive migration tasks such as information collection, prerequisite validation, network mapping, job tracking, logging, and post-migration checks. The project also included documentation and knowledge transfer so CPAC's internal team could manage the Hyper-V cluster, SCVMM, workload migrations, maintenance, and future platform expansion.
The Results
A More Sustainable, Manageable Platform
CPAC established a Microsoft-based virtualization environment aligned with its broader Windows Server and systems-management strategy. This reduced reliance on VMware while providing a clear foundation for future modernization.
The proof-of-concept and staged migration approach allowed technical issues to be identified before business-critical systems were moved, avoiding the risks of a large-scale, one-time cutover.
Windows Server Failover Clustering and Live Migration gave greater flexibility for host maintenance, infrastructure changes, and workload recovery. Virtual machines now move between nodes without the disruption of standalone servers.
SCVMM gave the CPAC team improved visibility across hosts, clusters, storage, networks, and virtual machines. It simplified administration and created a consistent operating model.
The phased approach let suitable servers and storage be reused. As VMware workloads migrated, existing hosts were reconfigured and added to Hyper-V, reducing unnecessary hardware replacement.
Standardized procedures, workload classification, technical checklists, and PowerShell automation created a repeatable process for migrating and managing additional workloads.
CPAC received more than a replacement hypervisor. It gained a documented and manageable virtualization platform that its internal team could continue to operate and expand.
Technology Used
Modernizing Federal Government Infrastructure
Structured planning, controlled implementation, and practical knowledge transfer.
Arcadion helps public-sector organizations modernize legacy infrastructure. For CPAC, this approach delivered a lower-risk VMware-to-Hyper-V migration and established a secure, resilient, and scalable platform for future government IT services.
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