VCP-DCV vSphere Architecture, Products and Solutions Practice Question
An administrator needs to migrate a running VM from one datastore to another without any downtime. Which vSphere feature allows this?
⚠ Common exam trap
VCP-DCV often tests the confusion between vMotion (compute migration between hosts) and Storage vMotion (disk migration between datastores), so candidates who see 'migrate a running VM' and reflexively pick vMotion miss the 'datastore' keyword.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Storage vMotion
Storage vMotion is the vSphere feature specifically designed to migrate a running VM's virtual disks (files) from one datastore to another while the VM remains powered on and continues serving workloads. It leverages a mirroring mechanism that copies disk blocks to the destination datastore and performs a fast switchover, achieving zero downtime. This is distinct from compute vMotion, which moves the VM's execution state between ESXi hosts.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Cross vCenter vMotion
Why it's wrong here
Cross vCenter vMotion moves a VM between vCenter Servers, not merely between datastores on one host. The stem requires only a datastore change with no downtime, which standard vMotion provides. Cross vCenter vMotion is correct when relocating across vCenters or sites.
- ✓
Storage vMotion
Why this is correct
Storage vMotion relocates a running VM's virtual disks between datastores while the guest OS keeps running, using changed-block tracking to mirror and switch over live I/O. This directly satisfies the stem's no-downtime constraint, unlike cold migration, which requires powering the VM off first.
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Storage DRS
Why it's wrong here
Storage DRS automates datastore placement and balancing across a datastore cluster, but it does not perform an immediate, administrator-initiated live migration of a single VM's files. It is tempting because it moves VM storage, yet the scenario needs a manual Storage vMotion operation.
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vMotion
Why it's wrong here
vMotion migrates a running VM's compute state between hosts; changing only its datastore without downtime is Storage vMotion. Plain vMotion leaves the VM's files on the original datastore. It is tempting because vMotion is the umbrella term, but the datastore-only requirement demands the storage variant.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official VMware exam blueprint
This VCP-DCV practice question is part of Courseiva's free VMware certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the VCP-DCV exam.