VMware Migration Readiness (Google Sheets Tool) vs Rightsizing/Optimization Tools

Stage-0 baseline (vCenter + backup CSVs, local) and rightsizing controllers: how they fit together.

TL;DR

  • Purpose: Stage-0 = fast, local readiness baseline; rightsizing tools = utilization-driven sizing & continuous optimization.

  • Inputs: Stage-0 uses vCenter + backup CSVs; rightsizing tools ingest live performance/usage metrics (via connectors, collectors, or agents).

  • Outputs: Stage-0 delivers per-VM readiness with reasons + exec rollups; rightsizing tools deliver right-size targets, policy-driven actions, and capacity headroom insights.

Examples in this class include rightsizing/capacity features found in Turbonomic-style controllers or VMware Aria Operations–style capacity analytics.)

Looking for the page where you can download the VMware Migration Readiness (Google Sheets Tool) — Stage-0 readiness baseline? Click here.

What each does

Stage-0 Readiness Baseline (this tool)

  • Inputs: vCenter inventory CSV + backup job inventory CSV.

  • Runs locally: Google Sheets (and Excel) — no agents, no SaaS ingest.

  • Normalization: deduped VM names, OS family, any-tag production/critical/compliance, uptime class.

  • Backup posture: missing/stale backups, short retention, irregular frequency, no offsite.

  • Output: Per-VM readiness with reasons (only causes that apply) and exec-ready rollups by Cluster / OS family / Uptime / Backup posture.

  • Why first: quickly separates move-sooner vs stabilize/leave-for-now cohorts before deeper, utilization-heavy sizing work.

Rightsizing/optimization tools (class)

  • Goal: recommend or enforce right-sized resources (vCPU/RAM/storage) based on observed utilization patterns; improve density and reduce waste.

  • How: collect live metrics (CPU, memory, IO, peaks/percentiles), analyze trends, apply policies (e.g., business hours, SLAs), and suggest resize, re-tier, or consolidate.

  • Output: Right-size targets, capacity headroom, policy compliance, and recommendations that feed cost/capacity plans.

When to use each

  • Use Stage-0 when you need a vendor-neutral triage baseline in hours—no access changes—to brief stakeholders and focus attention.

  • Use rightsizing tools when you are ready to size precisely using utilization history, enforce policies, and plan capacity headroom or consolidations.

How they work together (handoff 1-2-3)

  1. Stage-0 shortlist: Identify cohorts by cluster/OS/role with readiness + reasons, backup posture, and uptime class.

  2. Targeted rightsizing: Point rightsizing tools at shortlisted cohorts to compute right-size targets and policy exceptions (rather than sizing the entire estate).

  3. Planning: Use right-size outputs to refine TCO scenarios, consolidation plans, and migration wave sizes; keep Stage-0 flags as your audit trail for why certain VMs remain as-is.

What carries forward from Stage-0 (not throwaway)

  1. Deduped VM inventory with normalized names & OS family.

  2. Any-tag normalization for production / critical (DB/AD/DNS) / compliance.

  3. Backup posture flags (missing/stale/retention/offsite) informing RPO/RTO readiness.

  4. Uptime class highlighting change-averse systems that may need longer windows.

  5. Cohort shortlist to limit rightsizing scope to what affects decisions.

  6. Assumptions register and readiness rules table for governance.

  7. Optional CSV bundle (inventory + flags + cohorts) to align teams without re-keying.

Can we continue guiding beyond Stage-0?

Yes. If deeper optimization is useful, we’ll help scope the right next step, ensure Stage-0 artifacts are reused with rightsizing outputs, and keep assumptions consistent across cost, capacity, and wave planning. Vendor-neutral.

What this page is not

A product review or endorsement. This page explains how a Stage-0 readiness baseline complements an rightsizing tools.

Micro-FAQ

  • No. Stage-0 provides a readiness baseline and shortlists cohorts; rightsizing tools use live utilization to set precise resource targets.

  • Deduped counts, OS/role mix, backup posture, uptime class, and cohort selection—plus thresholds/rules—focus rightsizing where it changes outcomes.

  • Lower friction and faster signal; you avoid estate-wide collection and target rightsizing to the VMs that matter for migration and cost.

Legal & attribution

This page compares a Stage-0 readiness baseline with a class of rightsizing/optimization tools. Product names mentioned as examples (e.g., Turbonomic, VMware Aria Operations) are trademarks of their respective owners. We are not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by those vendors. Descriptions of third-party capabilities are based on publicly available information and typical deployments as of September 2025 and may change without notice.

Nothing here is legal, financial, or professional advice. Use of third-party products is governed by those vendors’ terms and privacy policies. Our tool runs locally in your Google Drive.

Last reviewed: September 8, 2025.