Convert Gentoo on ESXi

[theshork]

Hi all,

I'm try to convert a physic server Gentoo on virtual machine with Vmware Converter 5, the process seem to work fine, it remains at 1% for 30 minutes and then get the following error:

FAILED: The helper virtual machine did not boot up

How can i do?

Thanks

[ivivanov]

Can you switch the GUI to task view, right click on the failed task and export task logs?

[theshork]

I've attached my logs...

Thanks

[patanassov]

Hi

When doing Linux P2V, converter server deploys ans  boots a Linux VM named 'helper' which it connects to and pulls the data  from the source. From the worker's log:

"2012-01-23T23:26:19.865+01:00 [05728 error 'task-12'] guest state  did not change to "running" before we exhausted our retry attempts"

which means converter server (actually worker) won't able to connect to helper. Can you try to get the helper's logs? This link will guide you how to log in:  http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&docTypeID=DT_KB_1_1&e....  After you log in the helper log should be available under  /var/log/vmware-converter.

Regards,

Plamen

[theshork]

Hi,

I've set useSourcePasswordInHelperVm=true and powerOffHelperVm=false but i can't login into vm, attached that shows the console.

The file is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Dati applicazioni\VMware\VMware vCenter Converter Standalone\converter-worker.xml

Thanks

[ivivanov]

You need to *RESTART WORKER SERVICE* after changing the config file and run the conversion again.

HTH,

Ivan

[ivivanov]

Oh, I didn't notice the screenshot.

This is normal while the helper VM is booting up. If it hangs at this point - then it is not normal any more and that is the reason for your problem :-). However it is a problem in the early stages of booting the helper VM kernel and converter log won't be of any help (actually there is no helper log at all at this stage).

Are you saying that your helper VM hangs and stays at this screen forever?

[theshork]

Mi VM hangs at this point, after 30 minutes the Conferter give a FAILURE message and delete the vmx file...  

[ivivanov]

Hm, is the ISO image still connected as a CD drive to the VM when it hangs? Can you try to create a new blank VM without any disks, attach the the converter-helper-vm.iso as a CD-ROM device and try to boot the VM from the CD? Is it still hanging at that point?

I have no idea what could have gone wrong except for some sort of a network problem that disconnects the ISO image before the boot process completed. This problem occurs in a very early stage of helper VM startup and it has virtually nothing to do with the environment - it is just a linux kernel on that CD and booting the kernel is failing. At this point no data is read outside of the VM and I cannot think of a reason why it should hang, given that the same ISO image is working well in many other environments. Have you tried to select a different ESX host for the target VM?

[patanassov]

In case the problem is due to the iso having disconnected during boot, you may try reconnecting it manually in the VI client. I've just tried it, the boot continues after reconnecting.

HTH

Plamen

[theshork]

Hi,

thanks for reply to all, i've try to create a new VM and boot from converter-helper-vm-x64.iso but it can't show the login prompt but give this errors...

NB: I try to move this server on OVH network, they are in bridge mode.

[ivivanov]

This is normal - since the VM is not created by Converter, but manually and it is not updated to allow root login. The important thing here is that you were able to get to login prompt - this isn't happening when the Converter creates the VM and it is really strange. I have no idea why the target doesn't boot.

You can try to do what Plamen suggested - retry the conversion and if the target hangs again - power it off, power back on, attach the ISO image and make it boot from the CD. The 30 minutes is more than enough for all sorts of tests.

HTH,

Ivan

[theshork]

The problem is that when Converter fails also remove the virtual machine from vSphere Inventory...

[ivivanov]

I mean to try this test *before* the Converter fails, but right after you notice that booting of the target is hanging...

[theshork]

Ops.. ok, i start the conversion and after 5 minute stop the VM, change the boot from cd with the iso and start VM...

[theshork]

Hi,

the VM boot but network don't work fine... the ip, mask and mac address is good but not a gateway (i've set mac address on vsphere too) and i can't set it via route add...  , show attach files...

Thanks

[patanassov]

Hi

I am not sure I understand all you have written. But you can try with static IP configuration of the helper VM (Options, Helper VM Network)

HTH

Plamen

[theshork]

I've set a static ip, mask, gateway and dns but after boot from iso there are no gateway, the command "netstat -nr" show a empty routing  table and the last row in vmware-converter log write "Entering the vmacore application loop..."

[theshork]

Hi, i've solved setting the table routing link this:

route add GATEWAY dev eth0

route add default gw GATEWAY

Now the conversion seems to proceed properly...