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Dinty
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Starting a VM Image

I had someone else make a VMware image for me using some version of ESX. I am able to add the VM to my inventory in ESXi 3.5 but when I start the VM I get an error message about the hard drive. When I open the settings and try and view the hard drive settings I get an error that there are unexpected values. I removed the HD and when I try to add it back ESX does not show the file even though it is a .vmdk.

Any ideas on how to get this VM to start?

My guess is that the VM was built on a SCSI machine and my machine uses SATA drives.

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AndreTheGiant
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As you see the vmdk file is in the wrong format.

Use vmkfstools -i OLD.vmdk NEW.vmdk

Then remove the virtual disk from hardware and the new disk.

Andre

Andrew | http://about.me/amauro | http://vinfrastructure.it/ | @Andrea_Mauro

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runclear
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can you post the exact errors you are getting?

I'm pretty sure it doesnt matter what the base disk system is (scsi/sata/fc) etc.. as long as the "datastore" is formatted as VMFS/NFS etc..

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AndreTheGiant
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I had someone else make a VMware image for me using some version of ESX

Ask which version was used.

And check in VM properties to see if virtual hardware is v4, disks are SCSI and in disks properties you can see disk size.

Andre

Andrew | http://about.me/amauro | http://vinfrastructure.it/ | @Andrea_Mauro
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Dinty
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Here are the two errors I get. The first is from when I try and start the VM. The second is when I try and edit the hard drive settings.

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AndreTheGiant
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As you see the vmdk file is in the wrong format.

Use vmkfstools -i OLD.vmdk NEW.vmdk

Then remove the virtual disk from hardware and the new disk.

Andre

Andrew | http://about.me/amauro | http://vinfrastructure.it/ | @Andrea_Mauro
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Dinty
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Using vmkfstools worked but I have some follow up questions.

1. What did vmkfstools -i do and why did I need to do that? I read about the command and options at http://www.vmware.com/support/esx21/doc/esx21admin_vmvkfstools.html but I still did not follow completely.

2. Is there another way to execute this command without turning on and using SSH?

Thanks.

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AndreTheGiant
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1. What did vmkfstools -i do and why did I need to do that?

Is a option to convert the vmdk format (as written before).

2. Is there another way to execute this command without turning on and using SSH?

Use VMware Standalone Converter.

Andre

Andrew | http://about.me/amauro | http://vinfrastructure.it/ | @Andrea_Mauro
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