Here is my situation -
I have a 2 node Microsoft Cluster with several virtual servers running on it. One of the virtual servers handles my file and print services - which is the one I would like to convert to a VM.
I have not yet attempted to migrate the Virtual server to a VM, but was wondering if anybody had successfully done so? My intent is to decommission the 2 physicals as well as the other virtual server running on the MS cluster. And although I could install a new VMand migrate the data (might be easier in the long run), I would like to give myself a little breathing run, as i need to decommission those servers asap due to a relocation.
I am running ESX 3.5 u 2.
Thanks,
David
Hi David. Have you looked into VMware Converter? It's freely downloadable and I believe it can convert both M$ and physical servers into VMware virtual machines.
Let us know if that works for you and good luck.
Sean
I have used the enterprise converter and the stand alone tool to do a conversion of a physical server to a VM. However hadnt tried to do a V2V and was wondering if anybody had had any luck doing so? Either way, I'll make sure and post my findings once I've tested a bit further.
Thanks.
Hi David,
I have used the converter tool many times to convert a virtual machine from for example ESX 2.5 to ESX 3.5 many many times. When you are going through the converter wizard just select that you want to convert a physical server and use the virtual's information for the target. I have never had any issues. Once the VM is converted you will see that there are a few parallel ports that you probably won't need. At least that is my experience. I'm actually do this tomorrow morning to move some VM's on ESX 3.0 that are behind a firewall.
-Bill
You can also use the Converter from a bootable CD you boot in the VM you are converting. That way you have not touched your old MS virtual at all so if the conversion doesn't work for some reason...you've lost nothing.
Moving post to the vConverter forum
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Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert
VMware Communities User Moderator
Blog: www.planetvm.net
Contributing author on "[VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment|http://www.amazon.co.uk/VMware-VSphere-Virtual-Infrastructure-Security/dp/0137158009/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256146240&sr=1-1]”.
Moving post to the vConverter forum
If you found this or any other answer useful please consider the use of the Helpful or correct buttons to award points
Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert
VMware Communities User Moderator
Blog: www.planetvm.net
Contributing author on "[VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment|http://www.amazon.co.uk/VMware-VSphere-Virtual-Infrastructure-Security/dp/0137158009/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256146240&sr=1-1]”.