diff --git a/pkg/controller/plan/BUILD.bazel b/pkg/controller/plan/BUILD.bazel
index 363f98ac6..8172e0ac9 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/plan/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/pkg/controller/plan/BUILD.bazel
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ go_library(
         "//pkg/controller/plan/handler",
         "//pkg/controller/plan/scheduler",
         "//pkg/controller/provider/web",
+        "//pkg/controller/provider/web/vsphere",
         "//pkg/controller/validation",
         "//pkg/lib/client/openshift",
         "//pkg/lib/condition",
diff --git a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/base/BUILD.bazel b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/base/BUILD.bazel
index e4d0cea04..1b82caa96 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/base/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/base/BUILD.bazel
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ go_library(
         "//pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/plan",
         "//pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/ref",
         "//pkg/controller/plan/context",
+        "//pkg/controller/plan/util",
         "//pkg/lib/error",
         "//vendor/k8s.io/api/core/v1:core",
         "//vendor/kubevirt.io/api/core/v1:core",
diff --git a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/base/doc.go b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/base/doc.go
index 395466171..af9c8c9cf 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/base/doc.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/base/doc.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	planapi "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/plan"
 	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/ref"
 	plancontext "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/plan/context"
+	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/plan/util"
 	liberr "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/lib/error"
 	core "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	cnv "kubevirt.io/api/core/v1"
@@ -103,13 +104,13 @@ type Client interface {
 	// Return whether the source VM is powered off.
 	PoweredOff(vmRef ref.Ref) (bool, error)
 	// Create a snapshot of the source VM.
-	CreateSnapshot(vmRef ref.Ref) (string, error)
+	CreateSnapshot(vmRef ref.Ref, hostsFunc util.HostsFunc) (string, error)
 	// Remove all warm migration snapshots.
-	RemoveSnapshots(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy) error
+	RemoveSnapshots(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, hostsFunc util.HostsFunc) error
 	// Check if a snapshot is ready to transfer.
 	CheckSnapshotReady(vmRef ref.Ref, snapshot string) (ready bool, err error)
 	// Set DataVolume checkpoints.
-	SetCheckpoints(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, datavolumes []cdi.DataVolume, final bool) (err error)
+	SetCheckpoints(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, datavolumes []cdi.DataVolume, final bool, hostsFunc util.HostsFunc) (err error)
 	// Close connections to the provider API.
 	Close()
 	// Finalize migrations
diff --git a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ocp/BUILD.bazel b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ocp/BUILD.bazel
index 866ccb325..d097e5931 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ocp/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ocp/BUILD.bazel
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ go_library(
         "//pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/ref",
         "//pkg/controller/plan/adapter/base",
         "//pkg/controller/plan/context",
+        "//pkg/controller/plan/util",
         "//pkg/controller/provider/web",
         "//pkg/lib/client/openshift",
         "//pkg/lib/error",
diff --git a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ocp/client.go b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ocp/client.go
index 44576f9d2..0c2564994 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ocp/client.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ocp/client.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	planapi "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/plan"
 	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/ref"
 	plancontext "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/plan/context"
+	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/plan/util"
 	liberr "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/lib/error"
 	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/settings"
 	core "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ func (r *Client) Close() {
 }
 
 // CreateSnapshot implements base.Client
-func (r *Client) CreateSnapshot(vmRef ref.Ref) (string, error) {
+func (r *Client) CreateSnapshot(vmRef ref.Ref, hostsFunc util.HostsFunc) (string, error) {
 	return "", nil
 }
 
@@ -123,12 +124,12 @@ func (r *Client) PoweredOff(vmRef ref.Ref) (bool, error) {
 }
 
 // RemoveSnapshots implements base.Client
-func (r *Client) RemoveSnapshots(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy) error {
+func (r *Client) RemoveSnapshots(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, hostsFunc util.HostsFunc) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
 // SetCheckpoints implements base.Client
-func (r *Client) SetCheckpoints(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, datavolumes []cdi.DataVolume, final bool) (err error) {
+func (r *Client) SetCheckpoints(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, datavolumes []cdi.DataVolume, final bool, hostsFunc util.HostsFunc) (err error) {
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/openstack/client.go b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/openstack/client.go
index 5603133bc..61a751ebd 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/openstack/client.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/openstack/client.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	planapi "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/plan"
 	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/ref"
 	plancontext "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/plan/context"
+	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/plan/util"
 	model "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/provider/web/openstack"
 	libclient "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/lib/client/openstack"
 	liberr "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/lib/error"
@@ -109,12 +110,12 @@ func (r *Client) PoweredOff(vmRef ref.Ref) (off bool, err error) {
 }
 
 // Create a snapshot of the source VM.
-func (r *Client) CreateSnapshot(vmRef ref.Ref) (imageID string, err error) {
+func (r *Client) CreateSnapshot(vmRef ref.Ref, hostsFunc util.HostsFunc) (imageID string, err error) {
 	return
 }
 
 // Remove all warm migration snapshots.
-func (r *Client) RemoveSnapshots(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy) (err error) {
+func (r *Client) RemoveSnapshots(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, hostsFunc util.HostsFunc) (err error) {
 	return
 }
 
@@ -124,7 +125,7 @@ func (r *Client) CheckSnapshotReady(vmRef ref.Ref, imageID string) (ready bool,
 }
 
 // Set DataVolume checkpoints.
-func (r *Client) SetCheckpoints(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, datavolumes []cdi.DataVolume, final bool) error {
+func (r *Client) SetCheckpoints(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, datavolumes []cdi.DataVolume, final bool, hostsFunc util.HostsFunc) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ova/BUILD.bazel b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ova/BUILD.bazel
index 0795708f6..7e226422e 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ova/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ova/BUILD.bazel
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ go_library(
         "//pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/ref",
         "//pkg/controller/plan/adapter/base",
         "//pkg/controller/plan/context",
+        "//pkg/controller/plan/util",
         "//pkg/controller/provider/model/ova",
         "//pkg/controller/provider/web",
         "//pkg/controller/provider/web/base",
diff --git a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ova/client.go b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ova/client.go
index b94ef9003..c890eab66 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ova/client.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ova/client.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	planapi "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/plan"
 	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/ref"
 	plancontext "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/plan/context"
+	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/plan/util"
 	libweb "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/lib/inventory/web"
 	core "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	cdi "kubevirt.io/containerized-data-importer-api/pkg/apis/core/v1beta1"
@@ -45,12 +46,12 @@ func (r *Client) connect() (err error) {
 }
 
 // Create a VM snapshot and return its ID.
-func (r *Client) CreateSnapshot(vmRef ref.Ref) (snapshot string, err error) {
+func (r *Client) CreateSnapshot(vmRef ref.Ref, hostsFunc util.HostsFunc) (snapshot string, err error) {
 	return
 }
 
 // Remove all warm migration snapshots.
-func (r *Client) RemoveSnapshots(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy) (err error) {
+func (r *Client) RemoveSnapshots(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, hostsFunc util.HostsFunc) (err error) {
 	return
 }
 
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ func (r *Client) CheckSnapshotReady(vmRef ref.Ref, snapshot string) (ready bool,
 }
 
 // Set DataVolume checkpoints.
-func (r *Client) SetCheckpoints(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, datavolumes []cdi.DataVolume, final bool) (err error) {
+func (r *Client) SetCheckpoints(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, datavolumes []cdi.DataVolume, final bool, hostsFunc util.HostsFunc) (err error) {
 	return
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ovirt/client.go b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ovirt/client.go
index 5a2394ff7..c665dc978 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ovirt/client.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/ovirt/client.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	planapi "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/plan"
 	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/ref"
 	plancontext "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/plan/context"
+	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/plan/util"
 	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/provider/container/ovirt"
 	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/provider/web"
 	model "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/provider/web/ovirt"
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ type Client struct {
 }
 
 // Create a VM snapshot and return its ID.
-func (r *Client) CreateSnapshot(vmRef ref.Ref) (snapshot string, err error) {
+func (r *Client) CreateSnapshot(vmRef ref.Ref, hostsFunc util.HostsFunc) (snapshot string, err error) {
 	_, vmService, err := r.getVM(vmRef)
 	if err != nil {
 		err = liberr.Wrap(err)
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ func (r *Client) CreateSnapshot(vmRef ref.Ref) (snapshot string, err error) {
 }
 
 // Remove all warm migration snapshots.
-func (r *Client) RemoveSnapshots(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy) (err error) {
+func (r *Client) RemoveSnapshots(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, hostsFunc util.HostsFunc) (err error) {
 	// Snapshot removal is done in Finalize to avoid race conditions
 	return
 }
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ func (r *Client) CheckSnapshotReady(vmRef ref.Ref, snapshot string) (ready bool,
 }
 
 // Set DataVolume checkpoints.
-func (r *Client) SetCheckpoints(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, datavolumes []cdi.DataVolume, final bool) (err error) {
+func (r *Client) SetCheckpoints(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, datavolumes []cdi.DataVolume, final bool, hostsFunc util.HostsFunc) (err error) {
 	n := len(precopies)
 	previous := ""
 	current := precopies[n-1].Snapshot
diff --git a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/vsphere/BUILD.bazel b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/vsphere/BUILD.bazel
index 1303c6c6a..380efa315 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/vsphere/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/vsphere/BUILD.bazel
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ go_library(
         "//pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/ref",
         "//pkg/controller/plan/adapter/base",
         "//pkg/controller/plan/context",
+        "//pkg/controller/plan/util",
         "//pkg/controller/provider/container/vsphere",
         "//pkg/controller/provider/model/vsphere",
         "//pkg/controller/provider/web",
diff --git a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/vsphere/client.go b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/vsphere/client.go
index 6ad372a98..e78b1e1e6 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/vsphere/client.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/plan/adapter/vsphere/client.go
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@ import (
 	liburl "net/url"
 	"strconv"
 
+	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1"
 	planapi "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/plan"
 	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1/ref"
 	plancontext "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/plan/context"
+	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/plan/util"
 	model "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/provider/web/vsphere"
 	liberr "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/lib/error"
 	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/settings"
@@ -19,8 +21,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/vmware/govmomi/vim25/mo"
 	"github.com/vmware/govmomi/vim25/soap"
 	"github.com/vmware/govmomi/vim25/types"
+	core "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 	cdi "kubevirt.io/containerized-data-importer-api/pkg/apis/core/v1beta1"
+	k8sclient "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -31,13 +35,14 @@ const (
 // vSphere VM Client
 type Client struct {
 	*plancontext.Context
-	client *govmomi.Client
+	client      *govmomi.Client
+	hostClients map[string]*govmomi.Client
 }
 
 // Create a VM snapshot and return its ID.
-func (r *Client) CreateSnapshot(vmRef ref.Ref) (id string, err error) {
+func (r *Client) CreateSnapshot(vmRef ref.Ref, hosts util.HostsFunc) (id string, err error) {
 	r.Log.V(1).Info("Creating snapshot", "vmRef", vmRef)
-	vm, err := r.getVM(vmRef)
+	vm, err := r.getVM(vmRef, hosts)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -63,7 +68,7 @@ func (r *Client) CheckSnapshotReady(vmRef ref.Ref, snapshot string) (ready bool,
 }
 
 // Remove all warm migration snapshots.
-func (r *Client) RemoveSnapshots(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy) (err error) {
+func (r *Client) RemoveSnapshots(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, hosts util.HostsFunc) (err error) {
 
 	r.Log.V(1).Info("RemoveSnapshot",
 		"vmRef", vmRef,
@@ -76,16 +81,16 @@ func (r *Client) RemoveSnapshots(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy) (er
 		// only necessary to clean up the last snapshot if this feature is enabled,
 		// because all others will have already been cleaned up.
 		lastSnapshot := precopies[len(precopies)-1].Snapshot
-		err = r.removeSnapshot(vmRef, lastSnapshot, false)
+		err = r.removeSnapshot(vmRef, lastSnapshot, false, hosts)
 	} else {
 		rootSnapshot := precopies[0].Snapshot
-		err = r.removeSnapshot(vmRef, rootSnapshot, true)
+		err = r.removeSnapshot(vmRef, rootSnapshot, true, hosts)
 	}
 	return
 }
 
 // Set DataVolume checkpoints.
-func (r *Client) SetCheckpoints(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, datavolumes []cdi.DataVolume, final bool) (err error) {
+func (r *Client) SetCheckpoints(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, datavolumes []cdi.DataVolume, final bool, hosts util.HostsFunc) (err error) {
 	n := len(precopies)
 	previous := ""
 	current := precopies[n-1].Snapshot
@@ -103,7 +108,7 @@ func (r *Client) SetCheckpoints(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, data
 
 	if settings.Settings.VsphereIncrementalBackup && previous != "" {
 		var changeIds map[string]string
-		changeIds, err = r.getChangeIds(vmRef, previous)
+		changeIds, err = r.getChangeIds(vmRef, previous, hosts)
 		if err != nil {
 			return
 		}
@@ -115,7 +120,7 @@ func (r *Client) SetCheckpoints(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, data
 			})
 			dv.Spec.FinalCheckpoint = final
 		}
-		err = r.removeSnapshot(vmRef, previous, false)
+		err = r.removeSnapshot(vmRef, previous, false, hosts)
 		if err != nil {
 			return
 		}
@@ -134,7 +139,7 @@ func (r *Client) SetCheckpoints(vmRef ref.Ref, precopies []planapi.Precopy, data
 
 // Get the power state of the VM.
 func (r *Client) PowerState(vmRef ref.Ref) (state planapi.VMPowerState, err error) {
-	vm, err := r.getVM(vmRef)
+	vm, err := r.getVM(vmRef, nullableHosts)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -156,7 +161,7 @@ func (r *Client) PowerState(vmRef ref.Ref) (state planapi.VMPowerState, err erro
 
 // Power on the VM.
 func (r *Client) PowerOn(vmRef ref.Ref) (err error) {
-	vm, err := r.getVM(vmRef)
+	vm, err := r.getVM(vmRef, nullableHosts)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -177,7 +182,7 @@ func (r *Client) PowerOn(vmRef ref.Ref) (err error) {
 
 // Power off the VM. Requires guest tools to be installed.
 func (r *Client) PowerOff(vmRef ref.Ref) (err error) {
-	vm, err := r.getVM(vmRef)
+	vm, err := r.getVM(vmRef, nullableHosts)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -199,7 +204,7 @@ func (r *Client) PowerOff(vmRef ref.Ref) (err error) {
 
 // Determine whether the VM has been powered off.
 func (r *Client) PoweredOff(vmRef ref.Ref) (poweredOff bool, err error) {
-	vm, err := r.getVM(vmRef)
+	vm, err := r.getVM(vmRef, nullableHosts)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -219,6 +224,11 @@ func (r *Client) Close() {
 		r.client.CloseIdleConnections()
 		r.client = nil
 	}
+	for _, client := range r.hostClients {
+		_ = client.Logout(context.TODO())
+		client.CloseIdleConnections()
+	}
+	r.hostClients = nil
 }
 
 func (c *Client) Finalize(vms []*planapi.VMStatus, planName string) {
@@ -230,8 +240,8 @@ func (r *Client) PreTransferActions(vmRef ref.Ref) (ready bool, err error) {
 }
 
 // Get the changeId for a VM snapshot.
-func (r *Client) getChangeIds(vmRef ref.Ref, snapshotId string) (changeIdMapping map[string]string, err error) {
-	vm, err := r.getVM(vmRef)
+func (r *Client) getChangeIds(vmRef ref.Ref, snapshotId string, hosts util.HostsFunc) (changeIdMapping map[string]string, err error) {
+	vm, err := r.getVM(vmRef, hosts)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -266,8 +276,96 @@ func (r *Client) getChangeIds(vmRef ref.Ref, snapshotId string) (changeIdMapping
 	return
 }
 
+func (r *Client) getClient(vm *model.VM, hosts util.HostsFunc) (client *vim25.Client, err error) {
+	if el9, el9Err := r.Plan.VSphereUsesEl9VirtV2v(); el9Err == nil && el9 {
+		// when virt-v2v/el9 runs the migration, forklift-controller should interact only
+		// with the component that serves the SDK endpoint of the provider
+		client = r.client.Client
+		return
+	}
+
+	if r.Source.Provider.Spec.Settings[v1beta1.SDK] == v1beta1.ESXI {
+		// when migrating from ESXi host, we use the client of the SDK endpoint of the provider,
+		// there's no need in a different client (the ESXi host is the only component involved in the migration)
+		client = r.client.Client
+		return
+	}
+
+	host := &model.Host{}
+	if err = r.Source.Inventory.Get(host, vm.Host); err != nil {
+		err = liberr.Wrap(err, "host", vm.Host)
+		return
+	}
+
+	if cachedClient, found := r.hostClients[host.ID]; found {
+		// return the cached client for the ESXi host
+		client = cachedClient.Client
+		return
+	}
+
+	if hostMap, hostsErr := hosts(); hostsErr == nil {
+		if hostDef, found := hostMap[host.ID]; found {
+			// create a new client for the ESXi host we are going to transfer the disk(s) from, and cache it
+			client, err = r.getHostClient(hostDef, host)
+		} else {
+			// there is no network defined for the ESXi host, so we will transfer the disk(s) from vCenter and
+			// thus there is no need in a client for the ESXi host but we use the client for vCenter instead
+			client = r.client.Client
+		}
+	} else {
+		err = liberr.Wrap(hostsErr)
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+func (r *Client) getHostClient(hostDef *v1beta1.Host, host *model.Host) (client *vim25.Client, err error) {
+	url, err := liburl.Parse("https://" + hostDef.Spec.IpAddress + "/sdk")
+	if err != nil {
+		err = liberr.Wrap(err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	ref := hostDef.Spec.Secret
+	secret := &core.Secret{}
+	err = r.Get(
+		context.TODO(),
+		k8sclient.ObjectKey{
+			Namespace: ref.Namespace,
+			Name:      ref.Name,
+		},
+		secret)
+	if err != nil {
+		err = liberr.Wrap(err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	url.User = liburl.UserPassword(string(secret.Data["user"]), string(secret.Data["password"]))
+	soapClient := soap.NewClient(url, r.getInsecureSkipVerifyFlag())
+	soapClient.SetThumbprint(url.Host, host.Thumbprint)
+	vimClient, err := vim25.NewClient(context.TODO(), soapClient)
+	if err != nil {
+		err = liberr.Wrap(err)
+		return
+	}
+	hostClient := &govmomi.Client{
+		SessionManager: session.NewManager(vimClient),
+		Client:         vimClient,
+	}
+	if err = hostClient.Login(context.TODO(), url.User); err != nil {
+		err = liberr.Wrap(err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	if r.hostClients == nil {
+		r.hostClients = make(map[string]*govmomi.Client)
+	}
+	r.hostClients[host.ID] = hostClient
+	client = hostClient.Client
+	return
+}
+
 // Get the VM by ref.
-func (r *Client) getVM(vmRef ref.Ref) (vsphereVm *object.VirtualMachine, err error) {
+func (r *Client) getVM(vmRef ref.Ref, hosts util.HostsFunc) (vsphereVm *object.VirtualMachine, err error) {
 	vm := &model.VM{}
 	err = r.Source.Inventory.Find(vm, vmRef)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -275,7 +373,12 @@ func (r *Client) getVM(vmRef ref.Ref) (vsphereVm *object.VirtualMachine, err err
 		return
 	}
 
-	searchIndex := object.NewSearchIndex(r.client.Client)
+	client, err := r.getClient(vm, hosts)
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	searchIndex := object.NewSearchIndex(client)
 	vsphereRef, err := searchIndex.FindByUuid(context.TODO(), nil, vm.UUID, true, ptr.To(false))
 	if err != nil {
 		err = liberr.Wrap(err)
@@ -288,18 +391,22 @@ func (r *Client) getVM(vmRef ref.Ref) (vsphereVm *object.VirtualMachine, err err
 				vmRef.String()))
 		return
 	}
-	vsphereVm = object.NewVirtualMachine(r.client.Client, vsphereRef.Reference())
+	vsphereVm = object.NewVirtualMachine(client, vsphereRef.Reference())
+	return
+}
+
+func nullableHosts() (hosts map[string]*v1beta1.Host, err error) {
 	return
 }
 
 // Remove a VM snapshot and optionally its children.
-func (r *Client) removeSnapshot(vmRef ref.Ref, snapshot string, children bool) (err error) {
+func (r *Client) removeSnapshot(vmRef ref.Ref, snapshot string, children bool, hosts util.HostsFunc) (err error) {
 	r.Log.Info("Removing snapshot",
 		"vmRef", vmRef,
 		"snapshot", snapshot,
 		"children", children)
 
-	vm, err := r.getVM(vmRef)
+	vm, err := r.getVM(vmRef, hosts)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/controller/plan/migration.go b/pkg/controller/plan/migration.go
index 56efb1748..c633ae80e 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/plan/migration.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/plan/migration.go
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@ import (
 	plancontext "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/plan/context"
 	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/plan/scheduler"
 	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/provider/web"
+	model "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/controller/provider/web/vsphere"
 	libcnd "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/lib/condition"
 	liberr "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/lib/error"
 	libitr "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/lib/itinerary"
+	libref "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/lib/ref"
 	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/settings"
 	batchv1 "k8s.io/api/batch/v1"
 	core "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
@@ -490,7 +492,7 @@ func (r *Migration) removeWarmSnapshots(vm *plan.VMStatus) {
 	if vm.Warm == nil {
 		return
 	}
-	if err := r.provider.RemoveSnapshots(vm.Ref, vm.Warm.Precopies); err != nil {
+	if err := r.provider.RemoveSnapshots(vm.Ref, vm.Warm.Precopies, r.loadHosts); err != nil {
 		r.Log.Error(
 			err,
 			"Failed to clean up warm migration snapshots.",
@@ -789,7 +791,7 @@ func (r *Migration) execute(vm *plan.VMStatus) (err error) {
 				}
 			}
 			if vm.Warm != nil {
-				err = r.provider.SetCheckpoints(vm.Ref, vm.Warm.Precopies, dataVolumes, false)
+				err = r.provider.SetCheckpoints(vm.Ref, vm.Warm.Precopies, dataVolumes, false, r.loadHosts)
 				if err != nil {
 					step.AddError(err.Error())
 					err = nil
@@ -961,8 +963,7 @@ func (r *Migration) execute(vm *plan.VMStatus) (err error) {
 			break
 		}
 		var snapshot string
-		snapshot, err = r.provider.CreateSnapshot(vm.Ref)
-		if err != nil {
+		if snapshot, err = r.provider.CreateSnapshot(vm.Ref, r.loadHosts); err != nil {
 			if errors.As(err, &web.ProviderNotReadyError{}) || errors.As(err, &web.ConflictError{}) {
 				return
 			}
@@ -1078,7 +1079,7 @@ func (r *Migration) execute(vm *plan.VMStatus) (err error) {
 			return
 		}
 		if step.MarkedCompleted() {
-			err = r.provider.RemoveSnapshots(vm.Ref, vm.Warm.Precopies)
+			err = r.provider.RemoveSnapshots(vm.Ref, vm.Warm.Precopies, r.loadHosts)
 			if err != nil {
 				r.Log.Info(
 					"Failed to clean up warm migration snapshots.",
@@ -1201,6 +1202,53 @@ func (r *Migration) execute(vm *plan.VMStatus) (err error) {
 	return
 }
 
+// Load host CRs.
+func (r *Migration) loadHosts() (hosts map[string]*v1beta1.Host, err error) {
+	list := &v1beta1.HostList{}
+	err = r.List(
+		context.TODO(),
+		list,
+		&client.ListOptions{
+			Namespace: r.Source.Provider.Namespace,
+		},
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		err = liberr.Wrap(err)
+		return
+	}
+	hostMap := map[string]*v1beta1.Host{}
+	for i := range list.Items {
+		host := &list.Items[i]
+		ref := host.Spec.Ref
+		if !libref.Equals(&host.Spec.Provider, &r.Plan.Spec.Provider.Source) {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if !host.Status.HasCondition(libcnd.Ready) {
+			continue
+		}
+		// it's not that great to have a vSphere-specific entity here but as we don't
+		// intend to do the same for other providers, doing it here for simplicity
+		m := &model.Host{}
+		pErr := r.Source.Inventory.Find(m, ref)
+		if pErr != nil {
+			if errors.As(pErr, &web.NotFoundError{}) {
+				continue
+			} else {
+				err = pErr
+				return
+			}
+		}
+		ref.ID = m.ID
+		ref.Name = m.Name
+		hostMap[ref.ID] = host
+	}
+
+	hosts = hostMap
+
+	return
+}
+
 func (r *Migration) resetPrecopyTasks(vm *plan.VMStatus, step *plan.Step) {
 	step.Completed = nil
 	for _, task := range step.Tasks {
@@ -1716,7 +1764,7 @@ func (r *Migration) setDataVolumeCheckpoints(vm *plan.VMStatus) (err error) {
 	for _, disk := range disks {
 		dvs = append(dvs, *disk.DataVolume)
 	}
-	err = r.provider.SetCheckpoints(vm.Ref, vm.Warm.Precopies, dvs, vm.Phase == AddFinalCheckpoint)
+	err = r.provider.SetCheckpoints(vm.Ref, vm.Warm.Precopies, dvs, vm.Phase == AddFinalCheckpoint, r.loadHosts)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/controller/plan/util/utils.go b/pkg/controller/plan/util/utils.go
index dbafdf24c..ae1e8c335 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/plan/util/utils.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/plan/util/utils.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package util
 import (
 	"math"
 
+	api "github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/apis/forklift/v1beta1"
 	"github.com/konveyor/forklift-controller/pkg/settings"
 	core "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 )
@@ -31,3 +32,5 @@ func CalculateSpaceWithOverhead(requestedSpace int64, volumeMode *core.Persisten
 	}
 	return spaceWithOverhead
 }
+
+type HostsFunc func() (map[string]*api.Host, error)