upgrading to ESXi

[vmtekken]

I heard that ESXi is now free.

I've been running VMWare Server (free version). Is there an easy route to upgrading from VMWare Server to ESXi?

ESXi runs directly on the hardware as oppsed to VMWare Server which runs on the OS right?

I'm assuming, need to backup the current vmware guests' image files that are running on VMWare Server and wipe the current VMWare Server, install ESXi, and then restore the backedup vmware guests?

Thanks

[weinstein5]

There is no way to upgrade directly form VMware server to ESXi - you will need to wipe the server and load ESXi because ESXi runs directly on the hardware. You will need to back up your existing vms. One you have built out your ESXi server you will then need to import the VMs from your vmware server into you ESXi environemnt - the best way to do this is by using VMware Converter -

[gdesmo]

Yes install i from scratch. Then import your sever vm's into 3i.

[Dave_Mishchenko · Accepted solution]

You have the process down - ESXi will do a bare metal install and wipe any existing partitions so you'll need to backup the VMs first. You can import them later with VMware Converter (especially if you created the VMs with IDE instead of SCSI disks).

You might want to look at what hardware you have before you install. ESXi supports less hardware that you'll find with Linux/Windows. Here's the official HCL - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi35_systems_guide.pdf and here are a list of systems that have been tested with ESX / ESXi - http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3.5/Whiteboxes_SATA_Controllers_for_ESX_3.5_3i.htm

[vmtekken]

Thanks.

From looking at the HCL , Dell PowerEdge 2850 is listed for ESX Server 3.5.

The ESX Server 3.5 isn't the ESXi that became free is it? And also it doesn't list other Dell Servers like the PowerVault models. If the model we have isn't listed, it means it won't work or is it simply not supported by them?

[Dave_Mishchenko]

ESX Server 3.5 is not the same as ESXi. You would want to look at the systems supported for ESX Server 3i Installable. That said, someone PMed me about their install with ESXi on a 2850 and it was fine (which was expected since ESX 3.5 and ESXi are similar in what they'll support hardware wise.

For the Powervault are you thinking about storage? If so, it's really a matter of which storage controller you're using - here's that HCL - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi35_io_guide.pdf. The actual disk cabinet is less of any issue. If you're wondering about a tape device, there are certain requirements to make that work.

[vmtekken]

I've created my vm guests with SCSI disks. Would it be difficult to convert them using vmware converter?

[s1xth]

I am in the same situation as you are. I am currently in 'testing' of ESXi right now, preparing and testing moving vm's from vmware server to esxi. There are a couple ways to do this process, move vm's to another server than run converter on this server with the VM's on it and drop them to the new ESX server, or you could use Acronis and back up the VM's to a .tib file, run the converter on the .tib files and drop to the new ESX server, OR back up the VM's to an Acronis file on the NAS/SAN etc and wipe the server, install ESX and once installed create a new VM and boot the Acronis disc and restore the selected VM to the new ESX VM....of course if you dont have Acronis than you will need to use Converter, both work and I have used both without any issues....really comes down to your network setup, environment etc.

Good luck!

[Dave_Mishchenko]

It's pretty easy when the VMs already are use the LSILogic or Buslogic SCSI controller.

[vmtekken]

Thanks guys!

[techQuility]

I've got ESXi installed on a Dell 2800 and it runs perfectly fine. The VM's definately run faster than on VMWare Server on a Windows host.