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MMazurkiewicz
Contributor
Contributor

Obtaining Dev Copy of VM

What is the best way to obtain a dev copy of a VM from ESX 4.0?  This isn't quite as simple as just doing a copy/migrate to a different ESX/ESXi server or into VMWare workstation though.  The production system that I want to get a dev copy of runs Linux, and has a data store that has remote disk space on the SAN.

When I've pulled an image using the standalone migration tool all I've been able to get is just the Linux OS core files, the data files that are on the remote data store on the SAN are a critical part of the upgrade that I need to test before applying it in my production environment so I'm just looking for a best practices for trying to get the whole server.

I did look at the option of using my backup system for restoration, but in my dev environment I will be limited to just a stand alone server without the remote disk that is in my production environment.  Since I keep running into this issue I figured that I'd see what I can find from the VMWare front while I also contact my backup solution's support to see if they have an answer as well.  Thanks

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sparrowangelste
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

it seems the missing part of your dev vm would be the rdm from the original that is on the san.

you could try vmware converter for a v2v

--------------------- Sparrowangelstechnology : Vmware lover http://sparrowangelstechnology.blogspot.com
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jdptechnc
Expert
Expert

VMware Converter should copy over all attached volumes regardless of how they are attached and convert them to the format that you specify.  Is the data disk in the Linux vm showing when you run the standalone converter tool in the section where you can specify the layout of the destination vm?

Please consider marking as "helpful", if you find this post useful. Thanks!... IT Guy since 12/2000... Virtual since 10/2006... VCAP-DCA #2222
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