diff --git a/pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/ConfigureMappingsStep.vue b/pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/ConfigureMappingsStep.vue
index 1d6a2ecb..2dc1eb13 100644
--- a/pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/ConfigureMappingsStep.vue
+++ b/pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/ConfigureMappingsStep.vue
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { useI18n } from '@shell/composables/useI18n';
 import { randomStr } from '@shell/utils/string';
 import { HCI } from '../../types';
 import { FORKLIFT_NAMESPACE } from '../../config/harvester-map';
+import { buildNetworkMapEntries, buildStorageMapEntries } from '../../utils/forklift';
 import MappingColumn from './MappingColumn.vue';
 
 const props = defineProps({
@@ -254,49 +255,15 @@ const formatStorageDetail = (entry) => {
   return parts.join(' • ');
 };
 
-const buildNetworkMapSpec = (providerRef) => {
-  return {
-    map: networkEntries.value.filter((entry) => !!entry.target).map((entry) => {
-      if (entry.target === 'pod') {
-        return {
-          source:      { name: entry.name, id: entry.id },
-          destination: { type: 'pod' },
-        };
-      }
+const buildNetworkMapSpec = (providerRef) => ({
+  map:      buildNetworkMapEntries(networkEntries.value, NAMESPACE),
+  provider: providerRef,
+});
 
-      if (entry.target === 'ignored') {
-        return {
-          source:      { name: entry.name, id: entry.id },
-          destination: { type: 'ignored' },
-        };
-      }
-
-      const parts = entry.target.split('/');
-      const netName = parts.length > 1 ? parts[1] : parts[0];
-      const netNamespace = parts.length > 1 ? parts[0] : NAMESPACE;
-
-      return {
-        source:      { name: entry.name, id: entry.id },
-        destination: {
-          type:      'multus',
-          name:      netName,
-          namespace: netNamespace,
-        },
-      };
-    }),
-    provider: providerRef,
-  };
-};
-
-const buildStorageMapSpec = (providerRef) => {
-  return {
-    map: storageEntries.value.filter((entry) => !!entry.target).map((entry) => ({
-      source:      { name: entry.name, id: entry.id },
-      destination: { storageClass: entry.target },
-    })),
-    provider: providerRef,
-  };
-};
+const buildStorageMapSpec = (providerRef) => ({
+  map:      buildStorageMapEntries(storageEntries.value),
+  provider: providerRef,
+});
 
 const saveAndReturn = async() => {
   const inStore = store.getters['currentProduct'].inStore;
diff --git a/pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/ConfigureProviderStep.vue b/pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/ConfigureProviderStep.vue
index 40333232..d396aaf1 100644
--- a/pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/ConfigureProviderStep.vue
+++ b/pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/ConfigureProviderStep.vue
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import { randomStr } from '@shell/utils/string';
 import { useI18n } from '@shell/composables/useI18n';
 import { HCI } from '../../types';
 import { FORKLIFT_NAMESPACE } from '../../config/harvester-map';
+import { decodeSecretValue } from '../../utils/forklift';
 
 const CREATE_NEW = '__create_new__';
 
@@ -114,17 +115,9 @@ watch(selectedProvider, (val) => {
         );
 
         if (secret?.data) {
-          const decode = (val) => {
-            try {
-              return atob(val || '');
-            } catch (e) {
-              return '';
-            }
-          };
-
-          username.value = decode(secret.data.user);
-          password.value = decode(secret.data.password);
-          skipTlsVerify.value = decode(secret.data.insecureSkipVerify) === 'true';
+          username.value = decodeSecretValue(secret.data.user);
+          password.value = decodeSecretValue(secret.data.password);
+          skipTlsVerify.value = decodeSecretValue(secret.data.insecureSkipVerify) === 'true';
         }
       }
 
diff --git a/pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/ReviewMigrationStep.vue b/pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/ReviewMigrationStep.vue
index ea49e798..35cd2e67 100644
--- a/pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/ReviewMigrationStep.vue
+++ b/pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/ReviewMigrationStep.vue
@@ -7,9 +7,11 @@ import { RcItemCard } from '@components/RcItemCard';
 import { LabeledInput } from '@components/Form/LabeledInput';
 import MappingsCell from '../MappingsCell';
 import { useI18n } from '@shell/composables/useI18n';
-import { randomStr } from '@shell/utils/string';
 import { HCI } from '../../types';
 import { FORKLIFT_NAMESPACE } from '../../config/harvester-map';
+import {
+  FORKLIFT_API_VERSION, buildNetworkMapEntries, buildStorageMapEntries, bytesToGB, mbToGB
+} from '../../utils/forklift';
 
 const props = defineProps({
   providerName:   { type: String, default: '' },
@@ -47,7 +49,7 @@ const totalVCpu = computed(() => vms.value.reduce((sum, vm) => sum + (vm.cpuCoun
 const totalMemoryGB = computed(() => {
   const totalMB = vms.value.reduce((sum, vm) => sum + (vm.memoryMB || vm.memory || 0), 0);
 
-  return Math.round(totalMB / 1024);
+  return mbToGB(totalMB);
 });
 
 const totalStorageGB = computed(() => {
@@ -59,14 +61,14 @@ const totalStorageGB = computed(() => {
     }
   });
 
-  return Math.round(totalBytes / (1024 * 1024 * 1024));
+  return bytesToGB(totalBytes);
 });
 
 const vmCards = computed(() => {
   return vms.value.map((vm) => {
     const cpus = vm.cpuCount || vm.numCPU || 0;
     const memMB = vm.memoryMB || vm.memory || 0;
-    const memGB = memMB ? t('harvester.addons.vmMigration.generic.memoryGb', { value: Math.round(memMB / 1024) }) : '-';
+    const memGB = memMB ? t('harvester.addons.vmMigration.generic.memoryGb', { value: mbToGB(memMB) }) : '-';
 
     let totalDiskBytes = 0;
 
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ const vmCards = computed(() => {
       totalDiskBytes = vm.disks.reduce((sum, d) => sum + (d.capacity || 0), 0);
     }
 
-    const diskDisplay = totalDiskBytes ? t('harvester.addons.vmMigration.generic.memoryGb', { value: Math.round(totalDiskBytes / (1024 * 1024 * 1024)) }) : '-';
+    const diskDisplay = totalDiskBytes ? t('harvester.addons.vmMigration.generic.memoryGb', { value: bytesToGB(totalDiskBytes) }) : '-';
     const os = vm.guestName || vm.guestOS || vm.os || '-';
 
     const vmNetworkMappings = networkMappings.value.filter((m) => m.usedBy && m.usedBy.includes(vm.name || vm.id));
@@ -93,52 +95,18 @@ const vmCards = computed(() => {
   });
 });
 
-const buildNetworkMapSpec = () => {
-  const entries = props.mappingEntries?.networkEntries || [];
-
-  return entries.map((entry) => {
-    if (entry.target === 'pod') {
-      return { source: { name: entry.name, id: entry.id }, destination: { type: 'pod' } };
-    }
-
-    if (entry.target === 'ignored') {
-      return { source: { name: entry.name, id: entry.id }, destination: { type: 'ignored' } };
-    }
-
-    const parts = entry.target.split('/');
-    const netName = parts.length > 1 ? parts[1] : parts[0];
-    const netNamespace = parts.length > 1 ? parts[0] : NAMESPACE;
-
-    return {
-      source:      { name: entry.name, id: entry.id },
-      destination: {
-        type: 'multus', name: netName, namespace: netNamespace
-      },
-    };
-  });
-};
-
-const buildStorageMapSpec = () => {
-  const entries = props.mappingEntries?.storageEntries || [];
-
-  return entries.map((entry) => ({
-    source:      { name: entry.name, id: entry.id },
-    destination: { storageClass: entry.target },
-  }));
-};
-
 const startMigrationAction = async() => {
   const inStore = store.getters['currentProduct'].inStore;
 
   const providerRef = {
     source: {
-      apiVersion: 'forklift.konveyor.io/v1beta1',
+      apiVersion: FORKLIFT_API_VERSION,
       kind:       'Provider',
       name:       props.providerName,
       namespace:  NAMESPACE,
     },
     destination: {
-      apiVersion: 'forklift.konveyor.io/v1beta1',
+      apiVersion: FORKLIFT_API_VERSION,
       kind:       'Provider',
       name:       'host',
       namespace:  NAMESPACE,
@@ -151,7 +119,7 @@ const startMigrationAction = async() => {
   const networkMap = await store.dispatch(`${ inStore }/create`, {
     type:     HCI.FORKLIFT_NETWORK_MAP,
     metadata: { name: networkMapName, namespace: NAMESPACE },
-    spec:     { map: buildNetworkMapSpec(), provider: providerRef },
+    spec:     { map: buildNetworkMapEntries(props.mappingEntries?.networkEntries || [], NAMESPACE), provider: providerRef },
   });
 
   await networkMap.save();
@@ -159,7 +127,7 @@ const startMigrationAction = async() => {
   const storageMap = await store.dispatch(`${ inStore }/create`, {
     type:     HCI.FORKLIFT_STORAGE_MAP,
     metadata: { name: storageMapName, namespace: NAMESPACE },
-    spec:     { map: buildStorageMapSpec(), provider: providerRef },
+    spec:     { map: buildStorageMapEntries(props.mappingEntries?.storageEntries || []), provider: providerRef },
   });
 
   await storageMap.save();
@@ -171,19 +139,19 @@ const startMigrationAction = async() => {
       provider: providerRef,
       map:      {
         network: {
-          apiVersion: 'forklift.konveyor.io/v1beta1',
+          apiVersion: FORKLIFT_API_VERSION,
           kind:       'NetworkMap',
           name:       networkMapName,
           namespace:  NAMESPACE,
         },
         storage: {
-          apiVersion: 'forklift.konveyor.io/v1beta1',
+          apiVersion: FORKLIFT_API_VERSION,
           kind:       'StorageMap',
           name:       storageMapName,
           namespace:  NAMESPACE,
         },
       },
-      targetNamespace: 'default',
+      targetNamespace: TARGET_NAMESPACE,
       vms:             vms.value.map((vm) => ({ id: vm.id, name: vm.name || vm.id })),
       warm:            false,
     },
@@ -192,36 +160,21 @@ const startMigrationAction = async() => {
   await plan.save();
 
   const planOwnerRef = {
-    apiVersion:         'forklift.konveyor.io/v1beta1',
+    apiVersion:         FORKLIFT_API_VERSION,
     kind:               'Plan',
     name:               plan.metadata.name,
     uid:                plan.metadata.uid,
     blockOwnerDeletion: true,
   };
 
-  const migration = await store.dispatch(`${ inStore }/create`, {
-    type:     HCI.FORKLIFT_MIGRATION,
-    metadata: {
-      name:            `${ planName.value }-migration-${ randomStr(5).toLowerCase() }`,
-      namespace:       NAMESPACE,
-      ownerReferences: [planOwnerRef],
-    },
-    spec: {
-      plan: {
-        apiVersion: 'forklift.konveyor.io/v1beta1',
-        kind:       'Plan',
-        name:       planName.value,
-        namespace:  NAMESPACE,
-      },
-    },
-  });
-
-  await migration.save();
-
   networkMap.metadata.ownerReferences = [planOwnerRef];
   await networkMap.save();
   storageMap.metadata.ownerReferences = [planOwnerRef];
   await storageMap.save();
+
+  // Kick off the first migration through the model so the Migration payload
+  // lives in a single place (also reused by the dashboard start/restart action).
+  await plan.startMigration();
 };
 
 const init = () => {
@@ -464,32 +417,6 @@ defineExpose({ startMigration: startMigrationAction });
     }
   }
 
-  .vm-card-mappings {
-    display: flex;
-    flex-direction: column;
-    gap: 4px;
-    border-top: 1px solid var(--border);
-    padding-top: 10px;
-  }
-
-  .mapping-line {
-    display: flex;
-    align-items: center;
-    gap: 8px;
-    font-size: 14px;
-
-    .icon {
-      color: var(--muted);
-      font-size: 14px;
-    }
-  }
-
-  .small-text {
-    font-size: 12px;
-    line-height: 16px;
-    color: #973C00;
-  }
-
   .banner-title {
     font-weight: 600;
   }
diff --git a/pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/SelectVmsStep.vue b/pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/SelectVmsStep.vue
index 9e124d96..8fe38730 100644
--- a/pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/SelectVmsStep.vue
+++ b/pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/SelectVmsStep.vue
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import SortableTable from '@shell/components/SortableTable';
 import { Banner } from '@components/Banner';
 import { BadgeState } from '@components/BadgeState';
 import { useI18n } from '@shell/composables/useI18n';
+import { bytesToGB, mbToGB } from '../../utils/forklift';
 
 const props = defineProps({
   providerName: { type: String, default: '' },
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ const buildTableRows = () => {
   return discoveredVMs.value.map((vm) => {
     const cpus = vm.cpuCount || vm.numCPU || '-';
     const memMB = vm.memoryMB || vm.memory || 0;
-    const memGB = memMB ? t('harvester.addons.vmMigration.generic.memoryGb', { value: Math.round(memMB / 1024) }) : '-';
+    const memGB = memMB ? t('harvester.addons.vmMigration.generic.memoryGb', { value: mbToGB(memMB) }) : '-';
 
     let totalDiskBytes = 0;
 
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ const buildTableRows = () => {
       totalDiskBytes = vm.disks.reduce((sum, d) => sum + (d.capacity || 0), 0);
     }
 
-    const diskDisplay = totalDiskBytes ? t('harvester.addons.vmMigration.generic.memoryGb', { value: Math.round(totalDiskBytes / (1024 * 1024 * 1024)) }) : '-';
+    const diskDisplay = totalDiskBytes ? t('harvester.addons.vmMigration.generic.memoryGb', { value: bytesToGB(totalDiskBytes) }) : '-';
     const rawPowerState = vm.powerState || vm.status?.phase || '-';
     const powerState = rawPowerState.replace(/([a-z])([A-Z])/g, '$1 $2').replace(/^./, (c) => c.toUpperCase());
 
@@ -524,11 +525,6 @@ init();
 
 <style lang="scss" scoped>
   .vm-table-title {
-    h4 {
-      margin: 0;
-      font-weight: 600;
-    }
-
     .text-deemphasized {
       font-size: 13px;
     }
diff --git a/pkg/harvester/models/forklift.konveyor.io.plan.js b/pkg/harvester/models/forklift.konveyor.io.plan.js
index 5f981416..b108707c 100644
--- a/pkg/harvester/models/forklift.konveyor.io.plan.js
+++ b/pkg/harvester/models/forklift.konveyor.io.plan.js
@@ -250,9 +250,7 @@ export default class ForkliftPlan extends HarvesterResource {
    * Kubernetes GC will automatically delete: Migration, NetworkMap, StorageMap, Provider (→ Secret).
    * Use foreground propagation to ensure children are deleted before the parent.
    */
-  remove() {
-    const opt = { ...arguments };
-
+  remove(opt = {}) {
     opt.params = { propagationPolicy: 'Foreground' };
 
     return this._remove(opt);
diff --git a/pkg/harvester/models/forklift.konveyor.io.provider.js b/pkg/harvester/models/forklift.konveyor.io.provider.js
index 8604a8c8..e47b3660 100644
--- a/pkg/harvester/models/forklift.konveyor.io.provider.js
+++ b/pkg/harvester/models/forklift.konveyor.io.provider.js
@@ -28,9 +28,7 @@ export default class ForkliftProvider extends HarvesterResource {
    * Kubernetes GC will automatically delete: Secret, NetworkMap, StorageMap.
    * Use foreground propagation to ensure children are deleted before the parent.
    */
-  remove() {
-    const opt = { ...arguments };
-
+  remove(opt = {}) {
     opt.params = { propagationPolicy: 'Foreground' };
 
     return this._remove(opt);
diff --git a/pkg/harvester/pages/c/_cluster/vm-migration/index.vue b/pkg/harvester/pages/c/_cluster/vm-migration/index.vue
index 6175c62a..2617d4c5 100644
--- a/pkg/harvester/pages/c/_cluster/vm-migration/index.vue
+++ b/pkg/harvester/pages/c/_cluster/vm-migration/index.vue
@@ -150,7 +150,6 @@ const headers = [
   {
     name:     'mappings',
     labelKey: 'harvester.addons.vmMigration.dashboard.columns.mappings',
-    value:    'mappingsDisplay',
   },
   { ...AGE },
 ];
diff --git a/pkg/harvester/pages/c/_cluster/vm-migration/provider-wizard.vue b/pkg/harvester/pages/c/_cluster/vm-migration/provider-wizard.vue
index a2c9f765..29f9ffd8 100644
--- a/pkg/harvester/pages/c/_cluster/vm-migration/provider-wizard.vue
+++ b/pkg/harvester/pages/c/_cluster/vm-migration/provider-wizard.vue
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import ConfigureProviderStep from '@pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/Config
 import ConfigureMappingsStep from '@pkg/harvester/components/vm-migration/ConfigureMappingsStep.vue';
 import { PRODUCT_NAME } from '@pkg/harvester/config/harvester';
 import { currentRouter, currentRoute } from '@pkg/harvester/utils/router';
+import { decodeSecretValue } from '@pkg/harvester/utils/forklift';
 import { HCI } from '@pkg/harvester/types';
 
 const store = useStore();
@@ -79,10 +80,19 @@ watch(mappingsReady, (val) => {
   steps[1].ready = val;
 });
 
+// CruResource exposes its inner Wizard via $refs; we reach into it to drive the
+// "test connection before advancing" handshake, since the provider must be verified
+// before the user can leave the first step.
 const wizardComponent = computed(() => cruRef.value?.$refs?.Wizard);
 
 const pendingProceed = ref(false);
 
+// Handshake to gate step 1 -> 2 on a successful connection test:
+// 1. When the user tries to advance off the provider step before it's ready,
+//    snap back (goToStep is 1-based, so goToStep(1) == the provider step) and
+//    programmatically trigger the async "Test connection" button.
+// 2. Once the test flips `providerReady`, mark the step ready and advance
+//    (goToStep(2)). If the test fails, the user simply stays on the provider step.
 watch(
   () => wizardComponent.value?.activeStepIndex,
   (newIdx, oldIdx) => {
@@ -198,17 +208,9 @@ const init = async() => {
       );
 
       if (secret?.data) {
-        const decode = (val) => {
-          try {
-            return atob(val || '');
-          } catch (e) {
-            return '';
-          }
-        };
-
-        stepData.provider.username = decode(secret.data.user);
-        stepData.provider.password = decode(secret.data.password);
-        stepData.provider.skipTlsVerify = decode(secret.data.insecureSkipVerify) === 'true';
+        stepData.provider.username = decodeSecretValue(secret.data.user);
+        stepData.provider.password = decodeSecretValue(secret.data.password);
+        stepData.provider.skipTlsVerify = decodeSecretValue(secret.data.insecureSkipVerify) === 'true';
         stepData.provider.createdSecret = secret;
       }
     }
diff --git a/pkg/harvester/pages/c/_cluster/vm-migration/vm-migration-wizard.vue b/pkg/harvester/pages/c/_cluster/vm-migration/vm-migration-wizard.vue
index 0548612e..8c20689c 100644
--- a/pkg/harvester/pages/c/_cluster/vm-migration/vm-migration-wizard.vue
+++ b/pkg/harvester/pages/c/_cluster/vm-migration/vm-migration-wizard.vue
@@ -98,10 +98,20 @@ watch(reviewReady, (val) => {
   steps[3].ready = val;
 });
 
+// CruResource exposes its inner Wizard via $refs; we reach into it to drive the
+// "test connection before advancing" handshake, since the provider must be verified
+// before the user can leave the first step.
 const wizardComponent = computed(() => cruRef.value?.$refs?.Wizard);
 
 const pendingProceed = ref(false);
 
+// Handshake to gate step 1 -> 2 on a successful connection test:
+// 1. When the user tries to advance off the provider step before it's ready,
+//    snap back (goToStep is 1-based, so goToStep(1) == the provider step) and
+//    programmatically trigger the async "Test connection" button.
+// 2. Once the test flips `providerReady` (watcher below), mark the step ready and
+//    advance to the next step (goToStep(2)). If the test fails, `providerTesting`
+//    watcher clears `pendingProceed` and the user stays put.
 watch(
   () => wizardComponent.value?.activeStepIndex,
   (newIdx, oldIdx) => {
diff --git a/pkg/harvester/utils/forklift.js b/pkg/harvester/utils/forklift.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8387c5ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/harvester/utils/forklift.js
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+// Shared helpers for the Forklift VM-migration feature.
+// Keep the map-spec builders here so the wizard step and the review step
+// (and any future edit flow) stay in sync instead of drifting apart.
+
+export const FORKLIFT_API_VERSION = 'forklift.konveyor.io/v1beta1';
+
+/**
+ * Decode a base64 value stored in a k8s Secret, tolerating malformed input.
+ */
+export function decodeSecretValue(val) {
+  try {
+    return atob(val || '');
+  } catch (e) {
+    return '';
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Bytes → whole GiB (rounded). Returns 0 for falsy input.
+ */
+export function bytesToGB(bytes) {
+  return Math.round((bytes || 0) / (1024 * 1024 * 1024));
+}
+
+/**
+ * MiB → whole GiB (rounded). Returns 0 for falsy input.
+ */
+export function mbToGB(mb) {
+  return Math.round((mb || 0) / 1024);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Build the `spec.map` entries for a Forklift NetworkMap from wizard entries.
+ * Entries without a chosen target are dropped so we never emit an invalid
+ * multus destination with an empty name.
+ *
+ * @param {Array}  entries          network mapping entries ({ name, id, target })
+ * @param {string} defaultNamespace namespace to use when the target has no `ns/` prefix
+ */
+export function buildNetworkMapEntries(entries = [], defaultNamespace) {
+  return entries
+    .filter((entry) => !!entry.target)
+    .map((entry) => {
+      const source = { name: entry.name, id: entry.id };
+
+      if (entry.target === 'pod') {
+        return { source, destination: { type: 'pod' } };
+      }
+
+      if (entry.target === 'ignored') {
+        return { source, destination: { type: 'ignored' } };
+      }
+
+      const parts = entry.target.split('/');
+      const name = parts.length > 1 ? parts[1] : parts[0];
+      const namespace = parts.length > 1 ? parts[0] : defaultNamespace;
+
+      return {
+        source,
+        destination: {
+          type: 'multus', name, namespace
+        },
+      };
+    });
+}
+
+/**
+ * Build the `spec.map` entries for a Forklift StorageMap from wizard entries.
+ * Entries without a chosen target are dropped.
+ *
+ * @param {Array} entries storage mapping entries ({ name, id, target })
+ */
+export function buildStorageMapEntries(entries = []) {
+  return entries
+    .filter((entry) => !!entry.target)
+    .map((entry) => ({
+      source:      { name: entry.name, id: entry.id },
+      destination: { storageClass: entry.target },
+    }));
+}