Help converting a windows VM running on a Linux host

[tiedeus]

I'm trying to do a V2V conversion using VMware converter and keep receiving an "A File I/O error occurred while accessing" when i specify the source. The virtual host is a Linux server running VMware Server 2.0. The virtual machines run from an NFS mount on a NetApp. I've shared the q-tree as a CIFS share so i'm able to access the .vmx file via UNC path. Below are the settings i select before i receive the error.

Source type: VMware Workstation or other VMware virtual machine

Virtual machine file:
IPADDRESS\vm_hostname\hostname.vmx

When i hit next in the converter tool, i receive the following error: "A File I/O error occurred while accessing" when i specify the source".

When i've done V2V conversions in the past from a Windows host, i don't have this error.

Can someone tell me where i'm going wrong?

Thanks,

[FranckRookie]

Hi Tiedeus,

Check if you have a snapshot. If it is the case, remove it.

Hope it helps

Franck

[tiedeus]

The server is not in snapshot mode.

Thanks,

[continuum]

can't you simply power off the VM and copy it ?




_________________________

VMX-parameters- WS FAQ -[ MOAcd|http://sanbarrow.com/moa241.html] - VMDK-Handbook

You also find me in the support crew of PHD Virtual Backup

[tiedeus]

The VM is powered off.

CORRECTION to my original post: The Linux host is running VMware Server 1.0.1, not 2.0

Thanks,

[FranckRookie]

You can try to boot your VM with the cold converter CD. You can also convert the VM remotely while it is running, as for any other physical machine.

Franck

[tiedeus]

I powered on the VM and tried to convert it while running w/ no success. I installed the agent it needed but the agent running on the VM i'm trying to convert needs to be able to talk to the new Virtual Center server which is firewalled.

I'm going to attempt the cold conversion boot now.

[tiedeus]

Just realized this requires an Enterprise license which i don't have.

[continuum]

very likely you do not need to reconfigure your VM.

So the easiest way would be to make sure the vmdk is in esx-compatible format and then upload the VM with winscp for example




_________________________

VMX-parameters- WS FAQ -[ MOAcd|http://sanbarrow.com/moa241.html] - VMDK-Handbook

You also find me in the support crew of PHD Virtual Backup

[tiedeus]

I copied the VM over to the new location and added it to inventory on the ESX cluster. When trying to boot the server, i received errors stating the disk is in the wrong backing format. What i don't understand is why is my only option to "browse" for the .vmx file. Should i download the linux version of the converter tool to try and connect to the linux host running the Windows VM's?

What if the linux host didn't have NFS mounts to a NAS and the VM's were on local disk of the host. How would i browse a linux filesystem w/ a Windows server, you can't w/out running Samba or something like that.

Should i try to SCP the files from the linux host over to the server running the conversion?

Thanks,

[continuum]

No - use VMservers tool vmware-vdiskmanager to convert the format before you upload the files.

If you use vdiskmanager to convert the existing vmdk to format "monolithicFlat" you only need one more small edit to make it esx-compatible - see my notes

http://sanbarrow.com/vmdk-howtos.html#flattovmfs




_________________________

VMX-parameters- WS FAQ -[ MOAcd|http://sanbarrow.com/moa241.html] - VMDK-Handbook

You also find me in the support crew of PHD Virtual Backup

[tiedeus]

The issue has been resolved. I copied the VM files from the NetApp to local disk on the server doing the conversion and it was successful. Thanks to everyone who responded with ideas.

--tiedeus