Required VMware vCenter Converter ports

Symptoms

You may receive the following errors, that can indicate blocked ports:

Unable to contact the specified host
The host is not available, there is a network configuration problem, or the management services on the host are not responding
Failed to connect to peer
Error: Failed to connect to server
The operation failed
Incorrect user credentials
Unable to SSH to the source machine
Please check if a firewall is blocking access to the SSH daemon on the source machine
Failed to clone the volume
Unable to connect
FAILED: The request refers to an unexpected or unknown type
Failed to connect ISO image to remote VM
FAILED: unable to obtain the IP address of the helper virtual machine
ssh: Could not resolve hostname
Name or service not known

Purpose

This article describes the ports required to be open for VMware vCenter Converter. Following the article and ensuring the ports are open ensures that common firewall configurations in your environment are compatible with Converter.

Resolution

VMware vCenter Converter fails if one or more required ports are blocked. Follow the section that matches your conversion scenario.

In this article, the following terms are used:

Source computer	The physical or virtual machine that is being converted.
Converter server	The server portion of VMware vCenter Converter. In a typical installation, both the Converter server and Converter client are installed at the same location. By default, this is the installation method that is used.
Converter client	The client portion of VMware vCenter Converter. In a custom installation, the Converter client can be installed to a different computer than the Converter server.
VirtualCenter	The VirtualCenter computer that is being used as the conversion destination, if such was chosen.
ESX	The VMware ESX host that is being used as the conversion destination, if one is chosen, or the ESX host that is hosting the target virtual machine.
Fileshare path	The path to a virtual machine's .vmx file, if the source is an existing or standalone virtual machine, or the path to a directory if the destination is to be a standalone virtual machine.
Standalone virtual machine	A virtual machine that is being managed by a VMware product other than VMware ESX.
Helper virtual machine	When converting a powered on Linux operating system (P2V), this is the target virtual machine that is being used temporarily for the purpose of copying files from the source computer. It uses the TCP/IP information that is entered in the Converter wizard for the target virtual machine. Make sure that this IP address can communicate directly with the source computer.

Notes:

If you perform a corrective action, determine if the problems initially encountered are still being experienced.
To test port connectivity, do so from a command or shell prompt. For more information, see Opening a command or shell prompt (1003892).
To test TCP port connectivity use the telnet command. For more information, see Testing port connectivity with the Telnet command (1003487).
To test UDP port connectivity from Linux or MacOS use the traceroute command. For more information, see a traceroute man page.
To test UDP port connectivity from Windows use the Portqry utility. For more information, see Microsoft KB 310099.
Note: These links were correct as of March 15, 2009. If you find a link is broken, provide feedback and a VMware employee will update the link.

Converting a powered on Windows operating system (P2V)

Source	Destination	TCP Ports	UDP Ports	Notes
Converter server	Source computer	445, 139, 9089	137, 138	If the source computer uses NetBIOS, port 445 is not required. If NetBIOS is not being used, ports 137, 138, and 139 are not required. If in doubt, make sure that none of the ports are blocked. Note: Unless you have installed Converter server to the source computer, the account used for authentication to the source computer must have a password, the source computer must have network file sharing enabled, and it cannot be using Simple File Sharing.
Converter server	VirtualCenter	443		Only required if the conversion target is VirtualCenter.
Converter client	Converter server	443		Only required if a custom installation was performed and the Converter server and client portions are on different computers.
Source computer	ESX	443, 902		If the conversion target is VirtualCenter then only port 902 is required.

Converting a powered on Linux operating system (P2V)

Source	Destination	TCP Ports	Notes
Converter server	Source computer	22	The Converter server must be able to establish an SSH connection with the source computer.
Converter client	Converter server	443	Only required if a custom installation was performed and the Converter server and client portions are on different computers.
Converter server	VirtualCenter	443	Only required if the conversion target is VirtualCenter.
Converter server	ESX	443, 902, 903	If the conversion target is VirtualCenter, only ports 902 and 903 are required.
Converter server	Helper virtual machine	443
Helper virtual machine	Source computer	22	The helper virtual machine must be able to establish an SSH connection with the source computer. By default the helper virtual machine gets its IP address assigned by DHCP. If there is no DHCP server available on the network chosen for the target virtual machine you must manually assign it an IP address.

Converting an existing virtual machine (V2V)

Source	Destination	TCP Ports	UDP Ports	Notes
Converter server	Fileshare path	445, 139	137, 138	This is only required for standalone virtual machine sources or destinations. If the computer hosting the source or destination path uses NetBIOS, port 445 is not required. If NetBIOS is not being used, ports 137, 138, and 139 are not required. If in doubt, make sure that none of the ports are blocked.
Converter client	Converter server	443		Only required if a custom installation was performed and the Converter server and client portions are on different computers.
Converter server	VirtualCenter	443		Only required if the target is VirtualCenter.
Converter server	ESX	443, 902		If the conversion target is VirtualCenter, only port 902 is required.

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KB Article: 1010056
Updated: Aug 14, 2009

Products:
VMware vCenter Converter
VMware vCenter Converter Standalone
Product Versions:
VMware vCenter Converter 4.0.x
VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 4.0.x

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