Knowledge Base

Technical Specifications

The following technologies were used to create this article:

• Virtual Iron v4.2
• VMware vCenter Converter Standalone v4.1
• VMware ESX/ESXi v4.0.0 build 164009

Guest Operating Systems Supported

All Windows and Linux guests supported by Virtual Iron and Converter.

Prerequisites

1. The source virtual machine must not be para-virtualized. Normally none of the previously listed guest operating systems are para-virtualized.
2. Within the source Virtual Iron virtual machine you must disable the VS Tools Installed setting on the Configuration tab prior to starting these steps.

Methods of Conversion

Cold Cloning Process

With the Cold Cloning process, the VMware Converter Boot CD is used to boot the source Virtual Iron virtual machine and launch the conversion process. This approach requires the source virtual machine to be offline during the cloning process. 

To cold clone the Virtual Iron virtual machine:

1. Insert the burned VMware Converter Boot CD into the physical Virtual Iron host. Use the Virtual Iron GUI to associate the physical CD-ROM drive with the virtual machine to be converted. Before starting the virtual machine, ensure the setting for Are VS Tools installed is disabled to ensure the VMware Converter Boot CD starts correctly. After starting the virtual machine, if the VMware Converter Boot CD does not boot, verify the virtual machine’s boot order is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive first.
   
   
2. When the virtual machine has booted VMware Converter Standalone, follow the steps on screen to clone and convert the system to a VMware vSphere virtual machine hosted by VMware ESX/ESXi.
   
1. Under step 3: Customize, select Install VMware Tools to install the VMware Tools after conversion.
2. Select Customize the identity of the virtual machine if you need to modify the converted system’s Name, Network Settings, and Time Zone. If the virtual machine is running Microsoft Windows, a new System ID (SID) can also be generated. This option requires the Microsoft Sysprep files to be provided.
3. You can also select Remove all System Restore checkpoints (recommended) to reduce the amount of data to be cloned and the time required to perform the clone accordingly.

Hot Cloning Process

Virtual Iron virtual machines running supported guest operating systems can also be hot cloned and converted. VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 4.01 provides broad guest operating system support for hot cloning as detailed in the release notes.

To Hot Clone the Virtual Machine:

1. Launch VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 4.01 either directly on the Virtual Iron virtual machine to be converted or on a supported remote system with network connectivity to the Virtual Iron host, the Virtual Iron virtual machine to be converted, and the VMware vSphere vCenter and/or VMware ESX/ESXi hosts to receive the converted virtual machine(s).
   
   
2. Choose the option to Convert Machine and select Source Type: Powered-on machine.
   
   Specify whether the powered-on machine is the local machine or a remote machine providing system address, credentials and guest operating system details as required.
   
   
3. Under Options / Advanced Options:
   
   
   1. Select Install VMware Tools on the imported virtual machine to install the VMware Tools after conversion.
   2. Select Configure guest preferences for the virtual machine if you need to modify the converted system’s Name, Network Settings, OS license, and Time Zone. If the virtual machine is running Microsoft Windows, a new System ID (SID) can also be generated. This option requires the Microsoft Sysprep files to be provided.
   3. You can also select Remove System Restore checkpoints on destination to reduce the amount of data to be cloned and the time required to perform the clone accordingly.
   4. Leave Reconfigure destination virtual machine selected, otherwise the selected conversion options are not applied.

To download and get more information on VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 4.01, refer to the Release Notes and User’s Manual and Download vCenter Converter.

Post Conversion

After the cloning and conversion process has completed, boot and test the converted virtual machine. VMware recommends all converted virtual machines be tested before decommissioning the original source virtual machines.