Convert a physical machine that run SQL server

[javrob]

Hi. I would like to know if I have to turn off the sql service when I am running vmware converter or I have nothing to do.

[asatoran]

Best to turn of all unnecessary services during conversion, if possible, to avoid data corruption. While I have hot converted SQL servers this way, they were not being used at that time. If you have users connected, you may have to restore the database to get any data changes. Or if the server is heavily used, conversion may fail.

[theanykey]

While it is supported and should work, our best practice would be to disable all non-necessary services using msconfig:

Click Start --> enter "msconfig" (without quotes)

Click on the "services" tab

Check the box for "hide all Microsoft services"

Select "disable all", then re-check the VMware services

Select the "startup" tab

Select "disable all" then re-check the VMware startup items

Reboot