// Module included in the following assemblies:
//
// * virt/live_migration/virt-initiating-live-migration.adoc

:_mod-docs-content-type: PROCEDURE
[id="virt-initiating-vm-migration-cli_{context}"]
= Initiating live migration by using the CLI

[role="_abstract"]
You can initiate the live migration of a running virtual machine (VM) by using the command line to create a `VirtualMachineInstanceMigration` object for the VM.

.Prerequisites

* You have installed the {oc-first}.
* You have the `kubevirt.io:migrate` RBAC role or you are a cluster administrator.

.Procedure

. Create a `VirtualMachineInstanceMigration` manifest for the VM that you want to migrate:
+
[source,yaml]
----
apiVersion: kubevirt.io/v1
kind: VirtualMachineInstanceMigration
metadata:
  name: <migration_name>
spec:
  vmiName: <vm_name>
----

. Create the object by running the following command:
+
[source,terminal]
----
$ oc create -f <migration_name>.yaml
----
+
The `VirtualMachineInstanceMigration` object triggers a live migration of the VM. This object exists in the cluster for as long as the virtual machine instance is running, unless manually deleted.

.Verification

* Obtain the VM status by running the following command:
+
[source,terminal]
----
$ oc describe vmi <vm_name> -n <namespace>
----
+
Example output:
+
[source,yaml]
----
# ...
Status:
  Conditions:
    Last Probe Time:       <nil>
    Last Transition Time:  <nil>
    Status:                True
    Type:                  LiveMigratable
  Migration Method:  LiveMigration
  Migration State:
    Completed:                    true
    End Timestamp:                2018-12-24T06:19:42Z
    Migration UID:                d78c8962-0743-11e9-a540-fa163e0c69f1
    Source Node:                  node2.example.com
    Start Timestamp:              2018-12-24T06:19:35Z
    Target Node:                  node1.example.com
    Target Node Address:          10.9.0.18:43891
    Target Node Domain Detected:  true
----