How to use a VM from Workstation AND ESX

[continuum]

Tested on a Windows-host

1. set up a NFS-server

2. create VM in WS6 - use monolithicFlat disk- install something - don't install tools

3. create ESX-compatible descriptor

4. add NFS-export to ESX-datastore

5. create VM and add existing disk - use edited descriptor

6. run it

of course you can later use the same disk with workstation again.

Workstation-version:

\# Disk DescriptorFile

version=1

CID=e3ee6b90

parentCID=ffffffff

createType="monolithicFlat"

\# Extent description

RW 16777216 FLAT "flatbase-flat.vmdk" 0

\# The Disk Data Base

#DDB

ddb.virtualHWVersion = "6"

ddb.toolsVersion = "0"

ddb.geometry.cylinders = "1044"

ddb.geometry.heads = "255"

ddb.geometry.sectors = "63"

ddb.adapterType = "lsilogic"

ESX-version:

\# Disk DescriptorFile

version=1

CID=7341dd22

parentCID=ffffffff

createType="vmfs"

\# Extent description

RW 16777216 VMFS "flatbase-flat.vmdk"

\# The Disk Data Base

#DDB

ddb.toolsVersion = "0"

ddb.adapterType = "lsilogic"

ddb.geometry.sectors = "63"

ddb.geometry.heads = "255"

ddb.geometry.cylinders = "1044"

ddb.virtualHWVersion = "4"

[continuum]

Has anybody else tested this ?

Seems to be a pretty fast way of deploying VMs to ESX

[DaveP]

Interesting! I haven't got time at present to test, plus my Lab Manager/ESX blade system won't power on and Dell aren't helping. $150K door stop at present. (Also haven't enough disk space on laptop to do tests in WS6.)

[DaveP]

What are you using for NFS server? Virtual appliance or something you built?

[continuum]

Tried both.

Setting up a VM with FreeNAS may be the easiest way.

But of course running an NFS-server on the Windows-host is faster than using a VM for storage.

So most of the time I use SFU - Services for Unix - free download from MS

[DaveP]

Hadn't thought about SFU. Good idea!