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biekee
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How to convert a raw disk to plain vmdk file

Hi all,

Is it possible to convert a raw disk to vmdk file without imaging tools like ghost?

Something with vmkfstools maybe?

Thanks for any replies,

bk

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Dean_Holland
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You could clone the disk with vmkfstools -

vmkfstools -i /path/to/raw.vmdk /path/to/copy.vmdk

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IamTHEvilONE
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If the os is Windows .. you could possibly run converter inside the system. As long as it's presented as a basic disk and formatted by windows, it should be seen just fine by converter.

VMKFSTOOLS, as far as I know, only converters a VMDK from one type to another. (thick to thin, sparse to monolithic ... etc)

can you give bit more about the situation (OS, where you want to go to esx/server ..)

Cheers,


EvilOne

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continuum
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You can use Workstation - if it is installed on the box with the raw-disk.

Otherwise use a liveCD with Workstation.

Create the rawdisk first - then use vmware-vdiskmanager to convert it to any other format.

See http://sanbarrow.com/moa-video-vdiskmanager-as-ghost.html

for instructions how to do that from a LiveCD

___________________________________

description of vmx-parameters:

VMware-liveCD:


________________________________________________
Do you need support with a VMFS recovery problem ? - send a message via skype "sanbarrow"
I do not support Workstation 16 at this time ...

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Texiwill
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Hello,

You can also use VMware COnverter if the raw disk is already connected to a VM or part of the P2V process.


Best regards,

Edward L. Haletky

VMware Communities User Moderator

====

Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.

CIO Virtualization Blog: http://www.cio.com/blog/index/topic/168354

As well as the Virtualization Wiki at http://www.astroarch.com/wiki/index.php/Virtualization

--
Edward L. Haletky
vExpert XIV: 2009-2023,
VMTN Community Moderator
vSphere Upgrade Saga: https://www.astroarch.com/blogs
GitHub Repo: https://github.com/Texiwill
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Dean_Holland
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You could clone the disk with vmkfstools -

vmkfstools -i /path/to/raw.vmdk /path/to/copy.vmdk

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GordonG
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Dean is right. Just create a mapping file to the RAW LUN and then clone that vmdk to a new vmdk file. I think you can do the copy using the Datastore Browser in 2.5, but I prefer the vmkfstools -i command Dean has given from the Sevice Console.

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TheButcher
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Hi,

You can also migrate the VM to another Datastore. The RDM that is connected to the VM will be converted to a vmdk-file.

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Mango96701
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I have the same requirement and am interested in this posting to migrate the VM to a different Datastore. Is this Storage Migration that is being referred to? If so, is there some document that discusses this option?

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aiea96701
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I know this posting was a long time ago but was wondering if, in fact, you found that this procedure does work. You just storage vmotion the VM and disks including the RAW disk to another datastore?

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biekee
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Well, as a matter of fact, I just used the vmkfstools -i method.

Dean, thanks!

Rgds,

Bk

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