Can esxi 5.1 open vmdk from workstation 8?

[zelda110]

Hello, I am new to VMware,

I just downloaded VMware vCenter Converter Standalone Client and convert one of our physical machine to vmware workstation 8.x vmdk files.

We plan to install esxi 5.1 on this server, and I am wondering if I can open the vmdk files?

Thanks

Jason

[vmroyale]

Hello and welcome to the communities.

You can export the VM from Workstation to OVF or run Converter again or.... There are many options here. You will be fine!

[zelda110]

Thanks for your reply,

what do you mean run Converter again? whcih option I should choose?

when I choose powered-on machine, it gave me 2 options.

1 VMware infrastructure virtual machine

2 Vmware workstation or other vmware Virtual machine

----I can select vmware workstation 8.0.x  7.0.x  .....vmware fusion.....vmware player etc.

Any idea?

Thank you!

[vmroyale]

You would power the VM down and then choose "VMware Workstation or other VMware virtual machine" from the pull-down menu for the source type selection in Converter.

[zelda110]

Hello, I will describe it here.

this is an physical server, and it's not a VM.

Our plan is install esxi on this server and then run the OS on the VM, so we need to backup the machine first. I googled and found  VMware Converter can convert the physical machine.

I choose the option

convert  powered-on machine ----Vmware workstation or other vmware Virtual machine---------vmware workstation 8.0.x 

I got a vmx file and a vmdk file.

I want to know Can I import it if I install esxi 5.1 on this physical server?

[vmroyale · Accepted solution]

Yes.

(1) Convert would first be run against the powered-on physical server to create a VMware Workstation-ready virtual machine as a set of flat files (.VMDK, .VMX, etc).

(2) Install Workstation or Player and make sure the P2V converted VM actually boots up and works as expected. Now is the time to test this.

(3) Install ESXi on the physical server you just took a P2V image of.

(4) Run Vmware Converter again and choose the VMware Workstation source type and choose the P2V image. Then select the ESXi Server as the host for it.

[zelda110]

Thank you very much.

about step 4 I have some questions(sorry I am new to this.)

(4) Run Vmware Converter again and choose the VMware Workstation source type and choose the P2V image. Then select the ESXi Server as the host for it.

Where I should run this? (any machine?)

Do you mean this

[vmroyale]

No worries. You will just launch Converter and click the Convert Machine link in the upper left corner. Then proceed like this:

Then on the next screen, you would specify the source like this:

[zelda110]

Thanks for you help.

I am clear now.

Jason

[zelda110]

One last question, will the files be transferrd to the server? (I mean the vmdk files)

Or it's running on my desktop?

[vmroyale]

The files will be copied to the ESXi server and the original source files will remain intact. If you are running Converter from your desktop, then you will have to let it complete the process from there.