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5 Replies Last post: Nov 4, 2009 9:47 AM by RohitGoel  

VMware Converter Standalone does block-level copying and sometime file-level copying posted: Nov 3, 2009 12:19 PM

Click to view RohitGoel's profile Novice
RohitGoel
5 posts since
Mar 4, 2009
Hi Team,

I am using VMware converter standalone for P2V and V2V migrations. I have noticed that some drives are cloned by the converter through block-level copying and some drives are colned through file level copying. Can anyone explaine me why is it so? Block level and file level methodology is decided by the converter on what basis? is the disk size\sector size or disk type? Any suggestion will be highly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Regards,

Rohit

Screen shot attached .. Message was edited by: RohitGoel

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Re: VMware Converter Standalone does block-level copying and sometime file-level copying

1. Nov 3, 2009 12:03 PM in response to: RohitGoel
Click to view continuum's profile Guru
continuum
12,616 posts since
Dec 18, 2003
when you resize the disk file-level copying is used - other wise you get block-level copying

___________________________________

VMX-parameters- VMware-liveCD - VM-Sickbay

Re: VMware Converter Standalone does block-level copying and sometime file-level copying

2. Nov 3, 2009 12:08 PM in response to: RohitGoel
Click to view joebabbo's profile Novice
joebabbo
5 posts since
Jun 20, 2009
Lot's of good in depth information here http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/converter_pubs.html but in summary:

It depends on the choices you make during the Convert Wizard -

For Hot Cloning you are using Volume-based cloning for P2V and Disk-based for V2V:

-Block-level is used when you maintain or extend HDD from source to target system
-File-level is used when you want to resize (i.e. shrink) the target HDD

N.B. Block-level is faster. For Cold-cloning you are using Disk-based cloning which is always Block-level.

Hope that helps.

Re: VMware Converter Standalone does block-level copying and sometime file-level copying

3. Nov 3, 2009 12:24 PM in response to: continuum
Click to view RohitGoel's profile Novice
RohitGoel
5 posts since
Mar 4, 2009
Is there any resize limit which decide on if vmware converter will use the file level cloning. I have attacehd a screen shot ..i am resizing the 'D' (from 50Gb to 80GB) drive also for traget VM but still Vmware converter has used block based method to clone it and for 'E' that is also an resized disk for target is been converted through file based cloning. ...is there somthing else which decides the file level or block level when it is resizing?

Re: VMware Converter Standalone does block-level copying and sometime file-level copying

4. Nov 3, 2009 12:43 PM in response to: RohitGoel
Click to view joebabbo's profile Novice
joebabbo
5 posts since
Jun 20, 2009
RohitGoel wrote:
Is there any resize limit which decide on if vmware converter will use the file level cloning. I have attacehd a screen shot ..i am resizing the 'D' (from 50Gb to 80GB) drive also for traget VM but still Vmware converter has used block based method to clone it and for 'E' that is also an resized disk for target is been converted through file based cloning. ...is there somthing else which decides the file level or block level when it is resizing?

No resize limit.

For D: resize you are extending which will still use block-level.

What are you doing for E:? Reducing the size?

Re: VMware Converter Standalone does block-level copying and sometime file-level copying

5. Nov 4, 2009 9:47 AM in response to: joebabbo
Click to view RohitGoel's profile Novice
RohitGoel
5 posts since
Mar 4, 2009

Hi .. Thanks alot for all the inputs...E is shrink thats why its using file level...appreciate for clarifying .

Regards,

Rohit

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