need to migrate data to a new VM

[Capnscarlet]

Currently, I have an out-of-warranty, physical W2K3 file server. I have created a VM W2K8 file server in Vmware that will replace previously mentioned W2k3 server. My data for vSphere 4 hosts and all physical servers is stored on a CX410 FC san. My questions are: How do I get data to my new VM? Do I need to migrate it? Redirect? Present it? Is there a tool within VMware? Do I perform this at the LUN level? Can I restore from a full backup tape using backup software?

To say the least, I am a bit confused and would appreciate any and all ideas, as I am sure there is more than one way. Thanks.

[DSTAVERT]

How is it arranged on the SAN? Was the data presented as a LUN to the physical host? How large are the LUNs? Depending on the size of the LUNs (slightly less than 2TB limit on LUNS presented to ESXi) you may want to use RDM to to present the disk to the virtual machine.

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-esxi-4-1-embedded/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm#href=vm_admin/t_c...

[Capnscarlet]

The data was presented as 3 separate LUNs. They all are under 2TBs limit.

[DSTAVERT · Accepted solution]

You have some options.

     Use RDM using the link to the documantation above.

     Create a new virtual disk in the virtual machines and use robocopy to copy the data from the physical server to the VMs.

     If the SAN has a CIFS option then use that to server files directly.

[Capnscarlet]

Thanks for your advice! Anyone of them are viable for my environment.