P2V a Windows 2003 on the same physical Host

[HiPhil]

Hi!

Sorry if this has been answered, but I couldn't find anything on this topic on other sites. What I want to do is convert a running physical Win2003 server into a VM running on the same physical host. I'd like to do this offline, as it's probably the only way anyway, only I'm not sure how to go about that. I have the P2V converter and the HyperV ready to be installed. Can I do this without using a 2nd or 3rd physical machine that I move the guest OS to first? What are the necessary steps?

Thanks,

Phil

[continuum]

You would install latest version of VMware Converter on the running 2k3.
You would need to start it via right click "run as admin" and select "this running machine"
Then select only the C: drive for the import.
Target of the import would be a Workstation VM - the VM can then be stored on a second drive.
This VM could then be used inside VMware Workstation.

P2V to HyperV is a completely different story

[HiPhil]

Thanks for the explanation. I think i'm not really used to the terminology yet. I just realised HyperV is what the competition calls their product.

What I want to do is use ESXi on the physical machine without any other OS on it. Then run the current 2k3 as VM on that ESXi. I did find an option for that in the Converter Client, but it only lets me virtualise to a _running_ESXi host, which is impossible obviously.

[continuum]

Then you need to convert to a Workstation destination first.
That allows to store the VM anywhere - a portable USB-drive for example.

After that is done you should check if the VM works in Workstation - if it does you can rebuild the physical machine.

Note: by installing ESXi everything on that host will be deleted !