VM migration using memory pointers

Techniques for migrating a virtual machine (VM) from being hosted by a first processing element to being hosted by a second processing element are disclosed. These processing elements have access to a common pool of data storage resources. VM data for the VM is stored at a first storage location in the common pool of data storage resources. As a part of the migration, the VM data is prevented from being moved. As a result, the VM data remains where it was originally stored despite the VM migrating to the second processing element. As another part of the migration, a memory pointer that points to the storage location of the VM data is accessed. The second processing element hosts a new VM, which is a migrated version of the initial VM, and accesses the storage location of the VM data via the memory pointer.