How to convert Raspberry Pi IMG to VMware format? It doesn't work if I convert it with Starwind.

[bhl88]

2017 01 11 Raspbian Jessie : Raspberry Pi Foundation : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

I would like to use Kali on this one (VM). Is it possible to convert a Raspberry Pi OS into a VMware / VBox?

The conversions I did were lacking (lacks HDD, no ISO, no autoinstall.iso, etc.)

[wila]

Hi,

Not possible.

Raspbian targets an ARM processor while VMware must run on x86/x64 processors.

But you can just download kali for x86/x64 and use that instead.

--

Wil

[bhl88]

So the solution is to link Kali and use OpenVAS on Raspberry Pi. Just need to think how to put them in the same place together.

[alvirtu]

Hi,

Not possible.

Raspbian targets an ARM processor while VMware must run on x86/x64 processors.

But you can just download kali for x86/x64 and use that instead.

--

Wil

Thanks for a direct answer! A couple of clarification questions, if I may:

1. Can you briefly explain why they can do this (run Raspbian as a vm) using "Virtual Box" (the claim is here)?

2. What does Kali Linux have to do with it?

[wila]

Hi,

The torrent file that they suggest to download in http://ediy.com.my/index.php/blog/item/52-virtualbox-raspberry-pi-emulator  is a special version of "raspbian", it is not a normal version of raspbian.

That special version has most likely been compiled for an x86/x64 processor, not the processor that is used on a raspberry pi.

As such you can't run it on a raspberry pi, but you can run it in virtualbox "to have Raspberry Pi experience before you own one of the boards" as they mention in that article.

Note that if it isn't compiled for an x86/x64 processor that it also won't work in virtualbox.

Technically it is possible to run a raspberry pi native raspbian image under QEMU, but you're likely to bump into some issues. I have read in the past about people doing that and they had a working image but also a rather instable experience.

re. Kali. The first question on this thread specifically mentions running Kali on a raspberry pi image.

--

Wil

[adgate]

Hi,

I have just tested, StarWind V2V converts img to VMDK. There is no issues with the VMDK. As it was already mentioned, the problem is CPU support. Rapberry Pi image targets ARM processors while VMware runs x86-x64.

Since you want to run Kali Linux in VM on either VMware or VirtualBox just download ready images https://www.offensive-security.com/kali-linux-vm-vmware-virtualbox-hyperv-image-download/

BR

[Razyr]

I know this post is now a bit old, but the RPi download page now includes an ISO which works with VMWare.

https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspberry-pi-desktop/

Hope this helps.

[PELewis]

Now that ESXI-ARM runs on raspi, I had this very question and would like to reopen it.

I tried mounting the vmdk disk in a raspian debian install and did a
dd if={image file} of=/dev/sdb

then mounting that as both a scsi and ide disk in a new VM. I was not met with success.

Any thoughts?

[wila]

@PELewis

Then it's not a VMware Workstation question any more but an ESXi Arm one.
While I've played with the ESXi-Arm fling for a bit, I don't have the time now to troubleshoot.
I suggest to create a new post about this over at https://communities.vmware.com/t5/ESXi-Arm-Fling/ct-p/2010 and include all the details of what you did (don't just refer to this thread and make people who want to help have to go read all this down here) and provide the errors you saw.

"I was not met with success" is as clear as "the car did not work".. please be specific and provide as much details as you can.

--
Wil

[PELewis]

it's been a long couple of days trying many different things, so the "not met with success" was probably frustration.
I've started another thread here:
https://communities.vmware.com/t5/ESXi-Arm-Fling-Discussions/Native-raspberry-pi-images-running-as-v...

hopefully that give the details needed to let folks know what i've done.