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hxdds8645
Contributor
Contributor

Is it possible to "import" a vmware INCLUDING all snapshots as a shared VMWare?

Hello

I have several local VMWare running on Workstation 8 with several snapshots (each one with a different version of our product).

Is there a trick to convert it into a shared VMWare INCLUDING all the snapshots??

I know it's possible to create snapshots after converting it - but that't would be too much work...

Thanks for any tips..

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Felix-The-Cat
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Hello hxdds8645,

Thanks for posting.

Could you please give us more info regarding:

1. Hosts config -OS, CPU, RAM, etc

2. Version of Workstation you use.

3. Guest config - OS, HD size (provisioned and actual)

---------------

Cheers

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hxdds8645
Contributor
Contributor

Hello Felix

Thanks for answering:

1. Hosts config -OS, CPU, RAM, etc: Win7-64, 16GB, Intel Xeon W3680

2. Version of Workstation you use. VMWare Workstation 8 (8.0.1 build-528992)

3. Guest config - OS, HD size (provisioned and actual) Win 7 and XP, HD: 50GB

BUT I think my question is quite independent from these technical facts (except Workstation 😎 as it targets to this explicit new functionality of shared VMWares (a kind of "automatic remote desktop console").

When I convert an existing VMWare to such a new shared WMWare I'm just able to convert the latests state of the vmware in powered off situation (without ANY snapshots!).

I'm looking for a solution to convert a vmware with a tree of snapshots into such a shared VMWare..

I hope this made it a bit clearer...

Michael

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continuum
Immortal
Immortal

create a bogus new VM using the same name inside the shared-vms path
configure it to be shared
dont ever start it - just make sure it appears as a shared VM

stop hostd and all instances of vmware.exe
delete the bogus VM and move the VM you want to the patrh you used for the bogus VM
restart hostd


________________________________________________
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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Felix-The-Cat
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Hi Michael

solution to convert a vmware with a tree of snapshots into such a shared VMWare..

Did you try to share VM by 'MOVING' ? Be prepared - moving 50+ GB may take a wile...

(For some case, I'll copy WHOLE VM Folder somewhere in safe place)

--------------------

Cheers

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continuum
Immortal
Immortal

forgot to mention
creating a junction instead of moving the directory also works


________________________________________________
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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hxdds8645
Contributor
Contributor

Hello Continuum

thanks for the suggestions and sorry for the delay!

I tried it but I didn't get it to work - after copying the original VMWare into the shared folder (and restarting VMWare Workstation) I was just shown the latests state and NON of the original snapshots ...

Probably the snapshots really have to be made within the shared mode?

Michael

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continuum
Immortal
Immortal

I use the junction procedure I mentioned before without problems


________________________________________________
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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