error converting windows 2003 server with exchange

[rschmid]

Hello,

we have a physical windows 2003 server which is DC and runs exchange server 2003.

Using VMware vCenter Converter to convert from a acronis image file the windows 2003 server to a virtual machine.

The job fails a 9%.

The protocol says:

'File-level volume clone error failed with sourcevolume id <+1*7-9200>7000000000000 and target volume id <+1*7-920000010000000000.

Error code: 2

Can somebody help?

Kind regards,

Roland Schmid

[a_p_]

Welcome to the Community,

some questions.

• Which version of Acronis did you use?
• Did you create the image online or offline? (For DC's and Exchange I strongly recommend to boot from the Acronis CD to make sure all files are consistent!)

If nothing helps, you could create a new VM and restore the image by booting the VM from the Acronis CD. After this you may need to use the Converter and configure the VM ("Machine konfigurieren") to inject the correct drivers.

André

[rschmid]

Hi,

we are using Acronis True Image Echo Enterprise Server (build 8.319)

The image is taken online, the server is running while the scheduled jobs start.

We are planing to upgrade our windows 2003 AD to windows 2008 and exchange 2003 to exchange 2010.

I want to have a running copy of our DCs before I modify ActiveDirectory Scheme.

Roland

[a_p_]

I can't tell you for sure whether this is a compatibility issue with the Acronis version you use or an issue because the image was created while the host was up and running. Currently supported versions are: Acronis True Image Echo 9.1, 9.5, and Acronis True Image 10.0, 11.0 (Home product)

Anyway, is there a chance you create an image while the server is powered off? If not, you may try to restore the image by using the Acronis Rescue CD.

André

[rschmid]

thank you for the answer.

Yes, sure we can power off the machine on weekend.

I will try it to create the image offline.

If I need to restore the image by using Acronis Rescue CD,

how do I boot a new (empty) virtual machine from CD ?

We are running VMware ESXi 4.1.0 host.

Roland

[a_p_]

... how do I boot a new (empty) virtual machine from CD ?

The easiest way to boot from a CD is to have/create an ISO image of the CD, upload it to a new folder (e.g. ISO-Repository) on a VMFS datastore and map it in the virtual machine's CD/DVD ROM settings (make sure you check "Connect at Power On").

With a newly created VM it should automatically boot from the CD/ISO. If not, you may hit the "ESC" key while the white bar is displayed to enter the boot menu.

André

[rschmid]

booting from the acronis rescue cd works so far.

thanks

while creating the new virtual machine the VM say max. 256 GB for virtual harddisk.

Is this a limit of the free ESXi host ?

Roland

[a_p_]

To allow larger virtual disks in ESXi 4.x and before, you need to provide a VMFS datastore with a lager block size. The default bock size is 1 MB which allows virtual disks with up to 256 GB. The options are 1, 2, 4 and 8MB block sizes. The 8 MB block size will allow virtual disks of 2TB (minus 512 Bytes). You cannot change the block size for an existing VMFS datastore on the fly. It requires reformatting.

What's the size of your Acronis image disks/partitions?

André

[a_p_]

This KB article (http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1012384) has some tables with the block sizes and the maximum virtual disk sizes associated to them. However, if you consider to recreate a datastore anyway, you may go with the 8MB block size.

André

[rschmid]

What's the size of your Acronis image disks/partitions?

75 GB for the OS (RAID1)

(53 GB free space on that partition)

700 GB RAID5 (contains exchange database)

(580 GB free space on that partition)

Roland

[rschmid]

André Pett schrieb:

This KB article (http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1012384) has some tables with the block sizes and the maximum virtual disk sizes associated to them. However, if you consider to recreate a datastore anyway, you may go with the 8MB block size.

André

thanks for the link

Reformatting VMFS datastore means I will loose my existing virtual machine (windows 2008) ?

And the shortly created empty virtual machine.

Roland

[a_p_]

Yes, recreating a datastore is done by formatting the disk?

If you want to keep the existing VMs, you need to download/export them and re-import once the reformatting is done.

André

[rschmid]

Yes, recreating a datastore is done by formatting the disk?

If you want to keep the existing VMs, you need to download/export them and re-import once the reformatting is done.

ok, thank you.

Roland

[rschmid]

Hello,

I have a further question.

How do I change my blocksize of my VMFS ?

Kind regards,

Roland

[a_p_]

You have to evacuate and delete the existing datastore and then re-create it. In the Add Storage (Speicher hinzufügen...) wizard, you have the option to select the block size. I'd suggest you select an 8MB block size, which allows for the maximum virtual disk size.

André

[rschmid]

evacuating a virtual machine - can I do it with the vSphere-Client ?

(OVF-Export ?)

Roland

[a_p_ · Accepted solution]

OVF-Export is one option. However since you have another datastore with free disk space you may also just copy the existing VM's to this datastore.

What I would probably do:

• shutdown the VM(s) which are located on the datastore
• delete any existing snapshots
• remove the VM(s) from the inventory (right click the VM -> "Remove from Inventory")
• copy the VM's folder(s) to the other datastore (using the datastore browser)
• rename the original folder(s) (to make sure there's no more reference to it)
• add the VM(s) to the inventory (right click the vmx file in the new/copied folder in the datastore browser)
• power on the VM(s) to make sure everything is ok
• delete the "old" folder(s)

There may be other options too, however the steps above should make sure the copy process ran properly and it is save to delete the now empty datastore.

André

[rschmid]

it's great your helping me a lot, thank you

I am browsing the datastore with my webbrowser (IE) but I can only read the content.

Is there another way to browse the datastore, delete and copy files/folders ?

Roland

[rschmid]

I think I found it (Datenspeicherbrowser)

Roland

[rschmid]

I found 2 old folders of no more existing VMs.

Can I delete them ?

(there are not in the inventory list)

Roland