description	external help file	Module Name	ms.date	online version	schema	title
Use this topic to help manage Windows and Windows Server technologies with Windows PowerShell.	Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.Cmdlets.dll-Help.xml	Hyper-V	12/20/2016	https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/hyper-v/compare-vm?view=windowsserver2022-ps&wt.mc_id=ps-gethelp	2.0.0	Compare-VM

Compare-VM

SYNOPSIS

Compares a virtual machine and a virtual machine host for compatibility, returning a compatibility report.

SYNTAX

NameSingleDestination (Default)

Compare-VM [-ComputerName <String[]>] [-Credential <PSCredential[]>] [-AsJob] [-Name] <String>
 [-DestinationHost] <String> [-DestinationCredential <PSCredential>] [-IncludeStorage]
 [-DestinationStoragePath <String>] [-ResourcePoolName <String>] [-RetainVhdCopiesOnSource] [-WhatIf]
 [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

NameSingleDestinationAndCimSession

Compare-VM [-CimSession <CimSession[]>] [-AsJob] [-Name] <String> [-DestinationCimSession] <CimSession>
 [-IncludeStorage] [-DestinationStoragePath <String>] [-ResourcePoolName <String>] [-RetainVhdCopiesOnSource]
 [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

NameMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession

Compare-VM [-CimSession <CimSession[]>] -VirtualMachinePath <String> [-SnapshotFilePath <String>]
 [-SmartPagingFilePath <String>] [-AsJob] [-Name] <String> [-DestinationCimSession] <CimSession>
 [-Vhds <Hashtable[]>] [-ResourcePoolName <String>] [-RetainVhdCopiesOnSource] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm]
 [<CommonParameters>]

Register

Compare-VM [-CimSession <CimSession[]>] [-ComputerName <String[]>] [-Credential <PSCredential[]>] [-AsJob]
 [-Path] <String> [-Register] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

Copy

Compare-VM [-CimSession <CimSession[]>] [-ComputerName <String[]>] [-Credential <PSCredential[]>]
 [-VirtualMachinePath <String>] [-SnapshotFilePath <String>] [-SmartPagingFilePath <String>] [-AsJob]
 [-Path] <String> [[-VhdDestinationPath] <String>] [-Copy] [-VhdSourcePath <String>] [-GenerateNewId] [-WhatIf]
 [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

NameMultipleDestinations

Compare-VM [-ComputerName <String[]>] [-Credential <PSCredential[]>] [-VirtualMachinePath <String>]
 [-SnapshotFilePath <String>] [-SmartPagingFilePath <String>] [-AsJob] [-Name] <String>
 [-DestinationHost] <String> [-DestinationCredential <PSCredential>] [-Vhds <Hashtable[]>]
 [-ResourcePoolName <String>] [-RetainVhdCopiesOnSource] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

VMMultipleDestinations

Compare-VM [-VirtualMachinePath <String>] [-SnapshotFilePath <String>] [-SmartPagingFilePath <String>] [-AsJob]
 [-VM] <VirtualMachine> [-DestinationHost] <String> [-DestinationCredential <PSCredential>]
 [-Vhds <Hashtable[]>] [-ResourcePoolName <String>] [-RetainVhdCopiesOnSource] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm]
 [<CommonParameters>]

VMMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession

Compare-VM -VirtualMachinePath <String> [-SnapshotFilePath <String>] [-SmartPagingFilePath <String>] [-AsJob]
 [-VM] <VirtualMachine> [-DestinationCimSession] <CimSession> [-Vhds <Hashtable[]>]
 [-ResourcePoolName <String>] [-RetainVhdCopiesOnSource] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

CompatibilityReport

Compare-VM [-CompatibilityReport] <VMCompatibilityReport> [-AsJob] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

VMSingleDestinationAndCimSession

Compare-VM [-AsJob] [-VM] <VirtualMachine> [-DestinationCimSession] <CimSession> [-IncludeStorage]
 [-DestinationStoragePath <String>] [-ResourcePoolName <String>] [-RetainVhdCopiesOnSource] [-WhatIf]
 [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

VMSingleDestination

Compare-VM [-AsJob] [-VM] <VirtualMachine> [-DestinationHost] <String> [-DestinationCredential <PSCredential>]
 [-IncludeStorage] [-DestinationStoragePath <String>] [-ResourcePoolName <String>] [-RetainVhdCopiesOnSource]
 [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

DESCRIPTION

The Compare-VM cmdlet compares a virtual machine and a virtual machine host for compatibility, returning a compatibility report. This is useful when trying to import or migrate a virtual machine that is incompatible with the target server that runs Hyper-V.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

PS C:\> Compare-VM -Name TestVM -DestinationHost TestDestinationHost

Compares virtual machine TestVM and Hyper-V host TestDestinationHost for compatibility.

Example 2

Attempts import of a virtual machine; the attempt fails due to incompatibilities with the Hyper-V host.
PS C:\> Import-VM -Path 'D:\vm1\Virtual Machines\53EAE599-4D3B-4923-B173-6AEA29CB7F42.XML'
Import-VM : Unable to import virtual machine due to configuration errors.  Please use Compare-VM to repair the virtual machine.
At line:1 char:1
+ import-vm -Path 'D:\vm1\Virtual Machines\53EAE599-4D3B-4923-B173-6AEA29CB7F42.XM ...
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (:) [Import-VM], VirtualizationOperationFailedException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.Commands.ImportVMCommand 

Gets a compatibility report that describes the attempted import and lists the virtual machine's incompatibilities with the Hyper-V host.
PS C:\> $report = Compare-VM -Path 'D:\vm1\Virtual Machines\53EAE599-4D3B-4923-B173-6AEA29CB7F42.XML'


Displays the compatibility report, revealing that the virtual network adapter was connected to switch Production. The Hyper-V host has no switch by that name.
PS C:\> $report.Incompatibilities | Format-Table -AutoSize
Message                                      MessageId Source
-------                                      --------- ------
Could not find Ethernet switch 'Production'.     33012 Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.VMNetworkAdapter 

Disconnects the virtual network adapter.
PS C:\> $report.Incompatibilities[0].Source | Disconnect-VMNetworkAdapter


Generates a new compatibility report to determine if the virtual machine is compatible with the Hyper-V host.
PS C:\> Compare-VM -CompatibilityReport $report


Displays the compatibility report.
PS C:\> $report
VM                 : Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.VirtualMachine
OperationType      : ImportVirtualMachine
Destination        : HYPER-V-1
Path               : D:\vm1\Virtual Machines\53EAE599-4D3B-4923-B173-6AEA29CB7F42.XML
SnapshotPath       : D:\vm1\Snapshots
VhdDestinationPath :
VhdSourcePath      :
Incompatibilities  :

Imports the virtual machine.
PS C:\> import-vm -CompatibilityReport $report
Name State CPUUsage(%) MemoryAssigned(M) MemoryDemand(M) MemoryStatus Uptime   Status             ReplicationState
---- ----- ----------- ----------------- --------------- ------------ ------   ------             ----------------
VM1  Off   0           0                 0                            00:00:00 Operating normally Disabled

Imports a virtual machine whose configuration is not compatible with the Hyper-V host. Note the use of Compare-VM to troubleshoot the import failure in the first step.

PARAMETERS

-AsJob

Runs the cmdlet as a background job.

Type: SwitchParameter
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases: 

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-CimSession

Runs the cmdlet in a remote session or on a remote computer. Enter a computer name or a session object, such as the output of a New-CimSession or Get-CimSession cmdlet. The default is the current session on the local computer.

Type: CimSession[]
Parameter Sets: NameSingleDestinationAndCimSession, NameMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession, Register, Copy
Aliases: 

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-CompatibilityReport

Specifies a compatibility report which resolves any incompatibilities between the virtual machine and the virtual machine host.

Type: VMCompatibilityReport
Parameter Sets: CompatibilityReport
Aliases: 

Required: True
Position: 0
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: True (ByValue)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-ComputerName

Specifies one or more Hyper-v hosts that run this cmdlet. NetBIOS names, IP addresses, and fully qualified domain names are allowable. The default is the local computer. Use localhost or a dot (.) to specify the local computer explicitly.

Type: String[]
Parameter Sets: NameSingleDestination, Register, Copy, NameMultipleDestinations
Aliases: 

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.

Type: SwitchParameter
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases: cf

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: False
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Copy

Specifies that the comparison should be made for a copy import operation.

Type: SwitchParameter
Parameter Sets: Copy
Aliases: 

Required: True
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Credential

Specifies one or more user accounts that have permission to perform this action. The default is the current user.

Type: PSCredential[]
Parameter Sets: NameSingleDestination, Register, Copy, NameMultipleDestinations
Aliases: 

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-DestinationCimSession

Specifies the CIMSession on the Hyper-V host to which this cmdlet compares the virtual machine for compatibility.

Type: CimSession
Parameter Sets: NameSingleDestinationAndCimSession, NameMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession, VMMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession, VMSingleDestinationAndCimSession
Aliases: 

Required: True
Position: 1
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-DestinationCredential

Specifies a user account that has permission to perform this action. The default is the current user.

Type: PSCredential
Parameter Sets: NameSingleDestination, NameMultipleDestinations, VMMultipleDestinations, VMSingleDestination
Aliases: 

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-DestinationHost

Specifies the Hyper-V host to which the virtual machine is to be compared for compatibility.

Type: String
Parameter Sets: NameSingleDestination, NameMultipleDestinations, VMMultipleDestinations, VMSingleDestination
Aliases: 

Required: True
Position: 1
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-DestinationStoragePath

Specifies a destination storage path to which all virtual machine storage is to be moved.

Type: String
Parameter Sets: NameSingleDestination, NameSingleDestinationAndCimSession, VMSingleDestinationAndCimSession, VMSingleDestination
Aliases: 

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-GenerateNewId

Specifies that the virtual machine should be copied and given a new unique identifier.

Type: SwitchParameter
Parameter Sets: Copy
Aliases: 

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-IncludeStorage

Specifies that the compatibility comparison should include both the virtual machine and its storage.

Type: SwitchParameter
Parameter Sets: NameSingleDestination, NameSingleDestinationAndCimSession, VMSingleDestinationAndCimSession, VMSingleDestination
Aliases: 

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Name

Specifies the name of the virtual machine to be compared.

Type: String
Parameter Sets: NameSingleDestination, NameSingleDestinationAndCimSession, NameMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession, NameMultipleDestinations
Aliases: 

Required: True
Position: 0
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: True (ByValue)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Path

Specifies the path to the configuration file of the virtual machine to be compared.

Type: String
Parameter Sets: Register, Copy
Aliases: 

Required: True
Position: 0
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: True (ByValue)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Register

Specifies that the comparison should be made for an in-place import operation.

Type: SwitchParameter
Parameter Sets: Register
Aliases: 

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-ResourcePoolName

Specifies the friendly name of the resource pool.

Type: String
Parameter Sets: NameSingleDestination, NameSingleDestinationAndCimSession, NameMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession, NameMultipleDestinations, VMMultipleDestinations, VMMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession, VMSingleDestinationAndCimSession, VMSingleDestination
Aliases: 

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-RetainVhdCopiesOnSource

Indicates that this cmdlet retains parent virtual hard disks on the source computer.

Type: SwitchParameter
Parameter Sets: NameSingleDestination, NameSingleDestinationAndCimSession, NameMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession, NameMultipleDestinations, VMMultipleDestinations, VMMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession, VMSingleDestinationAndCimSession, VMSingleDestination
Aliases: 

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-SmartPagingFilePath

Specifies the new path to use for a smart paging file, if one is needed.

Type: String
Parameter Sets: NameMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession, Copy, NameMultipleDestinations, VMMultipleDestinations, VMMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession
Aliases: 

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-SnapshotFilePath

Specifies the path for any snapshot files associated with the virtual machine.

Type: String
Parameter Sets: NameMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession, Copy, NameMultipleDestinations, VMMultipleDestinations, VMMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession
Aliases: CheckpointFileLocation, SnapshotFileLocation

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-VM

Specifies a virtual machine.

Type: VirtualMachine
Parameter Sets: VMMultipleDestinations, VMMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession, VMSingleDestinationAndCimSession, VMSingleDestination
Aliases: 

Required: True
Position: 0
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: True (ByValue)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-VhdDestinationPath

Specifies the folder to which the virtual machine's VHD is to be copied.

Type: String
Parameter Sets: Copy
Aliases: 

Required: False
Position: 1
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-VhdSourcePath

Specifies the folder from which the virtual machine's VHD files are to be copied.

Type: String
Parameter Sets: Copy
Aliases: 

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Vhds

Specifies an array of hash tables that specifies a location for each individual virtual hard disk that needs to be compared. Each hash table has two entries. The first entry specifies the current location of the virtual hard disk to move, and has a key of SourceFilePath. The second entry specifies the new location for the virtual hard disk, and has a key of DestinationFilePath. The virtual hard disk names must be identical in both entries.

Type: Hashtable[]
Parameter Sets: NameMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession, NameMultipleDestinations, VMMultipleDestinations, VMMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession
Aliases: 

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-VirtualMachinePath

Specifies the path where the resulting virtual machine configuration files are to be stored.

Type: String
Parameter Sets: NameMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession, VMMultipleDestinationsAndCimSession
Aliases: 

Required: True
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

Type: String
Parameter Sets: Copy, NameMultipleDestinations, VMMultipleDestinations
Aliases: 

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.

Type: SwitchParameter
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases: wi

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: False
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

CommonParameters

This cmdlet supports the common parameters: -Debug, -ErrorAction, -ErrorVariable, -InformationAction, -InformationVariable, -OutVariable, -OutBuffer, -PipelineVariable, -Verbose, -WarningAction, and -WarningVariable. For more information, see about_CommonParameters.

Files

Compare-VM.md

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