MihirP
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

P2V of Physical server attached to SAN

Hello,

I need to know how should I do P2V for a physical server attached to SAN? A step by step document will be very helpful.

--> For Data drives larger than 950 GB, will attach as RDM,

--> What are the steps where Physical servers's C: is on SAN

--> What about Data drives less than 950 GB?

Thanks,

Mihir

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vmroyale
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Immortal

Note: Discussion successfully moved from VMware ESXi 5 to VMware Converter Standalone

I typically would use VMware Converter to convert the OS volume and then re-present the data drives from the SAN as RDMs to the VM.

Brian Atkinson | vExpert | VMTN Moderator | Author of "VCP5-DCV VMware Certified Professional-Data Center Virtualization on vSphere 5.5 Study Guide: VCP-550" | @vmroyale | http://vmroyale.com
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MihirP
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Thanks vmroyale,

With respect to your reply;

For C:

"I typically would use VMware Converter to convert the OS volume" --> This needs to be done eventhough C: exists on SAN? We can't just create a VM, attach C: and boot it from there? Or compulsory need to convert OS volume?

For drives less than 950 GB:

How to approach for data drives less than 950 GB?

Thanks,

Mihir

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MihirP
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Can anyone please suggest?

wmarusiak
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I was doing P2V of SQL cluster with attached SAN last week.

I always received errors when I was trying to P2V server with SAN disks. What I did is the following.

  1. P2V of local disks.
  2. Cleanup after P2V, vmtools, uninstall HP software.
  3. I created dummy vSwitch without uplink so OS doesn't complain about disconnected nic.
  4. Copy of SAN data to another VM from same subnet to new disks.
  5. I copied and attached disks with SAN content to P2V VM.
  6. I changed disks signature so cluster resources could start.
Best Regards, Wojciech https://wojcieh.net
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UmeshAhuja
Commander
Commander

Hi,

Go through the below link...

Will give you the idea for your query

http://vmnomad.blogspot.in/2011/11/p2v-conversion-of-server-with-san-disks.html

Thanks n Regards
Umesh Ahuja

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MihirP
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Did not get below points from the article provided in the link;

1) Setup networking - I used DHCP settings --> Can I here configure NIC with the same static IP as physical server?

2) In Point 3 "Shut down the server and unpresent SAN disks on your storage controller" and then in Point 8 it is written "Unpresent the SAN disks from physical server" --> If we unpresent from SAN, then how come Physical Server will see the disks, so Point 8 is not required, correct?

Also here just the local disks are converted and in P2V VM SAN disks are attached as RDMs?

OR

SAN disks are also converted in this article? (Point 8 made me think of this question)

Thanks,

Mihir

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