The answer is that the VM must be powered on, and both source and destination hosts must be licensed for vMotion. This is correct because vMotion relies on a live migration process that transfers the active memory and execution state of a running virtual machine from one ESXi host to another without downtime; a powered-off VM would simply be a cold migration, which does not require vMotion licensing. On the VMware Certified Professional Data Center Virtualization VCP-DCV exam, this question tests your understanding of the fundamental prerequisites for vMotion, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly think the VM can be suspended or that only the source host needs a license. A common memory tip is to remember that vMotion stands for "virtual machine motion" — if the VM isn't moving while powered on, it isn't true vMotion. Keep in mind that shared storage is also required, but the two critical licensing and power-state requirements are the ones most frequently tested.
VCP-DCV vSphere Architecture, Products and Solutions Practice Question
This VCP-DCV practice question tests your understanding of vsphere architecture, products and solutions. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which TWO statements are true regarding vMotion requirements?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Both source and destination ESXi hosts must be licensed for vMotion.
vMotion requires both source and destination hosts to be licensed for vMotion, and the VM must be powered on.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Both source and destination ESXi hosts must be licensed for vMotion.
Why this is correct
Correct: vMotion is a licensed feature.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
The VM's virtual disks must be stored on shared storage.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: vMotion does not require shared storage.
✗
Both hosts must be in the same cluster.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Cross-cluster vMotion is possible.
✓
The VM must be powered on.
Why this is correct
Correct: vMotion only works on running VMs.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Both hosts must be in the same vCenter Server instance.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Cross-vCenter vMotion is possible.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related VCP-DCV NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
vSphere Architecture, Products and Solutions — This question tests vSphere Architecture, Products and Solutions — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Both source and destination ESXi hosts must be licensed for vMotion. — vMotion requires both source and destination hosts to be licensed for vMotion, and the VM must be powered on.
What should I do if I get this VCP-DCV question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related VCP-DCV NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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