Server 2008 x64 FAILS

[Levadmin]

Anyone successfully convert a 2008 Server? I get the following error:

06:18:12 PM Step 1 : Connecting to VMware Converter Agent on w2lnexc03

06:18:13 PM Step 2 : Creating target virtual machine and converting data

06:18:14 PM Configuring parameters for the target virtual machine...

06:18:14 PM Creating target virtual machine...

06:18:27 PM Taking a snapshot of the volume...

06:18:30 PM ERROR: Failed to take snapshot of a source volume.

Possible causes include not having any NTFS volumes on Windows XP or Windows 2003 source systems,

and not having enough free disk space.

VMware Converter Agent logs can be found on ServerName at C:\Windows\Temp\vmware-temp\vmware-converter*

VMware Converter Client logs on this computer can be exported, or found at C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\vmware-temp\vmware-client*

VMware Converter logs are stored on a temporary basis, and should be retrieved as soon as possible.

[paragsha]

What version of converter are you using? The stanalone version 3.0.3 does not support win 2k8 and hence snapshot failing is expected. Couple of options that you have are using converter built into

- Workstation 6.5 or

- Virtual center 2.5 Update 2

[Levadmin]

The VMWare converter I'm running is the 3.0.3 build 89816.

The Virtural Center is version 2.5.0 Build 104215

The VMWare Converter Enterprise Update 3 Boot CD, that appears to be working, has gotten further than previous attempts - about 22GB to convert, so it may take awhile.

Tony

[paragsha]

Like I said converter 3.0.3 cannot be used for your purpose. VC 2.5.0 build 104215 is what you should be using. VC has converter built in. You can confirm the build of converter in VC to be 103517. You should be able to use that to hot clone vista.

[IamTHEvilONE]

paragsha,

VC 2.5.0 build 104215 is what you should be using.

VC 2.5.0 U 3 doesn't support Windows 2008 either. (http://www.vmware.com/support/vi3/doc/vi3_vec_10u3_rel_notes.html) as it is absent from the list. Even though VC has it built in, it's essentially the 3.0.3 rebuilt as the plugin version.

You should be able to use that to hot clone vista.

Vista is supported in 3.0.3 standalone installer and boot disc ... that's according to the notes. (http://www.vmware.com/support/converter/doc/releasenotes_conv303.html#guestos)

Levadmin,

Windows 2008, despite having shared components between itself and vista, is a very different operating system that previous versions of windows.

Cold Clone will be your best effort, as you have found. You may see a failure at 97%, since converter may not be able to reconfigure the virtual machine on the ESX/VC host. That is expected behaviour.

Definately search this forum for Windows 2008, as there are some people with success and some that failed. 64-bit has been the the latter of the 2 categories.

[Levadmin]

I successfully converted (3) 2008 x64 servers. These are Exchange 2007 Client Access machines, conversion took about 25 minutes each.

I used the cold boot method - disabled UAC and turned off all firewall modes before conversion. After conversion, made sure systems were running fine, uninstalled all HP Hardware related software/drivers and reenabled the UAC and Firewall.