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jahanzaib
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Virtualization for Physical To Virtual Server

I need to convert one Physical Server (Dell Power Edge 820) Running (Windows 2012 R2 with SQL 2008) to a Virtual Machine. I found that we can do it with the help of VMware vCenter Converter.

Currently I am running vCenter 6.0 and physical environment is UCS Blades Servers. vCenter 6.0 is running as appliance (VCSA).

Where I will install VMware vCenter Converter ? Along with VCenter or on separate Machine? Kindly advice.

7 Replies
vijayrana968
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

You can install it on a separate windows VM, while installation. choose local mode instead of client-server mode.

https://www.vmware.com/pdf/convsa_60_guide.pdf 

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jahanzaib
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

There are 2 Software: Which one we will select for converter?

1: vCenter Converter Standalone Installer for Windows

2: vCenter Converter Standalone 6.0.0

Further what about if we install Converter Installer on separate physical Machine rather then on VM?

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vijayrana968
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

You can either install on a VM or physical machine. You should the first one (vCenter Converter Standalone Installer for Windows) as this is latest one released in 2016 with version 6.1.1 whereas second one was released on 2015 with version 6.0.0.

jahanzaib
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Thanks,

I have SQL server as well with Windows 2012R2 Server. I read in document that if you have SQL Database then Cold Migration is better option.

But I didn't find option for Cold Migration. How to do Cold Migration while system is power down and no IP address will assign to Physical Machine?

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vijayrana968
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

Migrating a vm with powered of state is called cold migratio. This can be performed When your source machine is VM. If you're migrating a physical system that must be powered on which refers hot migration. So this is physical machine installed sql you're planning to migrate with Vcenter converter ?

Yes, this is recommended to perform cold migration for sql to avoid data inconsistency.

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jahanzaib
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Yes this Physical machine (Dell) with running Windows 2012 Server R2 with SQL 2008.

I have few question:

1: How I can do cold migration for SQL to avoid data inconsistency?

2: SQL and windows 2012 Server Install on same Physical machine so if this cold migration then vCenter Converter Standalone will migrated first Windows 2012 Server or SQL Server? How to process of migration happen in my case?

Please give detail answer.

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vijayrana968
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

In this case you will have to install the standalone converter on this physical machine itself which you are going to migrate.

To be honest, I haven't migrated a physical server having databases but I believe this is need to be done very carefully.

1.  You should check best practices for this conversion and must follow each step sequentially Best practices for using and troubleshooting VMware Converter (1004588) | VMware KB.​          With this you shouldn't face any issue.

     Beside this, before starting conversion make sure you have stpped all SQL services and set it to manual. This physical server must have proper DNS resolution for itself and                      destination host as well.

2.  For the cold cloning you are asking for ....... In long past, VMware was providing VMware Cold Clone Converter ISO along with vCenter converter 3, 4 which is discontinued long time ago. This is useful for cold cloning/migration where you have to boot from this ISO and your guest OS you are going to clone is powered off so there's no chance of inconsistencies. This was preferable for exchange, domain controller, SQL etc where are high rate of data changes when server kept power on during migration.

The copy of this CD/ISO can be found here Dropbox - cold-clone-ISO  and steps to perform this are Terence Luk: VMware Converter P2V / Cold Clone Process

I am not sure if anyone using this nowadays.