Moving Domain Controller from Free ESX 3.5 to vSphere 6.5 Cluster

[Ruiiur]

Hello,

My client is finally upgrading his VMware hosts, from Free ESX 3.5 and Free ESX 4 to vSphere 6.5. His Domain Controllers are still in Windows 2003 Server, whats is the best pratice to move this Domain Controller?

Using the VMware vCenter Converter Standalone?

Copying the files from the old Host datastore to the new Hosts Shared datastore?

Other?

Thanks

Miguel

[vembutech1]

vSphere 6.5 does support windows 2003 but with limitation.

VMware Compatibility Guide - Guest/Host Search - 64 bit

VMware Compatibility Guide - Guest/Host Search - 32 bit

Its high time to update your DC OS version also since Windows 2003 OS support ended. Recommended to a clean install of latest Windows OS ( Windows 2016 or atleast windows 2012 R2 ) on ESXi 6.5 and configure DC.

VMware vCenter Converter Standalone product is used for P2V. . I believe it is a vm running on ESX 3.5. I would recommend to do a fresh install of ESXi 6.5 and latest Windows OS for DC.

[Ruiiur]

Thank you for your reply vembutech1.

The OS is in legacy Support in vSPhere 6.5.

At this time the client is not planning to update the OS, só I really have to move them…

.