Systems, processes, and devices migrate virtual machines to new servers. An example process includes identifying a virtual machine for migration in response to a load on a host server running the virtual machine. A direct device assignment of the virtual machine may be detected. The virtual machine may communicate with a first hardware device of the host server using the direct device assignment to bypass a host operating system of the host server. A target server is identified, and a replacement device assignment is reserved on the target server. The replacement device assignment includes a link to a second hardware device of the target server configured to bypass a host operating system of the target server. The virtual machine running on the host server is reconfigured with data supporting the replacement device assignment on the target server. The virtual machine migrates to the target server.