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Stendec75
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

VMKFStools migrate/move .vmdk from host to other host keep Thin Provisioned layout

Hi All,

I have setup an LAB environment testing some VMware migration situations when using simpel ESXi software as hypervisor. So there is no panic just preparation.

Vmkfstools got's my attention because it should be able to move/copy a .vmdk preserving the thin provisioned layout. A simpel copy command will convert a thin provisioned disk to thick...causing diskspace issues. 

I would like to move a VM to another host using vmkfstools using the network. The following script should do the trick:

vmkfstools -i /vmfs/volumes/56a0ae89-16a7a0a2-c199-6805ca1e3ebe/server1folder/vm-server1.vmdk root@192.168.1.99:/vmfs/volumes/56d7602b-8b95a9a1-3a70-1cc1dee56934/server2folder/vm-server2.vmdk -d thin

But it fails with an error:

Destination disk format: VMFS thin-provisioned

Failed to clone object parameters


Do I need to create the vm-server2.vmdk on the new server? I expected it will be automatically created.

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5 Replies
vijayrana968
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

Make sure the destination path/folder exists. If yes then check if it misspelled in your command.

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Stendec75
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

When I do a CD on the destination machine:

# cd /vmfs/volumes/56d7602b-8b95a9a1-3a70-1cc1dee56934/server2folder/

[root@localhost:/vmfs/volumes/56d7602b-8b95a9a1-3a70-1cc1dee56934/server2folder]#


I recieve no errors..so it looks like the foldername excist on the destination.

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vijayrana968
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

Do source VM has any snapshots ?

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Stendec75
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

No, it does not contain any snaphots. :smileyplain:

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Stendec75
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Manage to connect the harddisk :smileyalert:  of the other host to a local interface on the other server, so both datastores are on the same host now. The vmkfstools command works oke:

vmkfstools -i /vmfs/volumes/56a0ae89-16a7a0a2-c199-6805ca1e3ebe/server1folder/vm-server1.vmdk /vmfs/volumes/56d7602b-8b95a9a1-3a70-1cc1dee56934/server2folder/vm-server2.vmdk -d thin

So, if a local cloning works fine, kind of asking myself if it's even possible to clone a .vmdk to an datastore on another host over a network using root@192.168.1.82:/ ?? Does anyone has any postitive experience with it?

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