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.
Make sure the destination path/folder exists. If yes then check if it misspelled in your command.
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.
Do source VM has any snapshots ?
No, it does not contain any snaphots. :smileyplain:
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?