P2V Converter for DC

[Skumar704]

Hi,

I am planning to move our DC running on 2008R2 on Physical to Virtual.

Gone through various articles and found out that it is not recommended.

To test it in created a dummy setup and tried to do P2V using 5.5 standalone.

Followed the article and started the DC in DSRM.

It started to convert using P2V and returned the error of VSS.

Found out from application logs that vss doesn't run in DSRM.

Please recommend steps to move DC to Virtual infrastructure.

Regards,

Sushil

[patanassov]

Hi

have a look at this KB: VMware KB: Virtualizing existing domain controllers in VMware vCenter Converter

HTH

Plamen

[jandraux]

Yeap, sadly there are recommended "dont's" when using P2V

Check this VMware doc about best practices/do's and dont's: HERE (its a pdf)

Also, once you start to setup P2V

1. Disable Firewall

     -Disable Firewall completely

2. Run as Administrator the application

      -Simply Right-Click and RUN as Administrator

3. Make sure if your host is 5.5 your p2v converter version is 5.5 as well

4. If you don't have a vCenter server use VM Version 9 in the conversion setup

     -v10 requires vsphere web clent or vcenter server

5. IMPORTANT: in the p2v conversion setting UNTICK the connect at power on on the NIC to avoid conflict

     -since p2v requires that your physical server and esxi server meet, thus if you forgot to untick it, you'd expect network conflict

6. READ THE BEST PRACTICE DOCUMENT

-Of course, test your P2V'd physical server, create an isolated network in your host and test it out. if no issues occur then you're okay
TIP: Still keep the physical server for a few months or so, we may never know issues may occur if you ever plan to put it live in your network ^_^

[jandraux]

Oh yeah, it's safe to upgrade the RAM/CPU
though I recommend to follow what VMWare recommends on the max specs you can give your P2V VM

[DanielOprea]

Hi,

The server only has the role of DC?

If so, why not create a VM with 2008R2, you install the AD, synchronize, and then pass the roles removes the physical DC.

P.D. The VSS error gives you because you have disk problems.

[Skumar704]

Thank you all for your reply.

I am thinking on the same line for creating a VM,syncing and transferring the roles.

Since in DSRM mode VSS doesn't work hence can't have the option of Snapshots to do P2V in 2008DC.

Regards,

Sushil