Can I take a virtual image of my physical server?
- Thread starter Spooter
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Be careful though, I've had lots of problems with VMware converter... two machines we've moved from physical to virtual now have regular problems with disk consistency and other strange issues to do with locking etc. The fact that it only supports 2GB splits is a PITA too.
With that said, we have got a couple more machines that have been converted and so far have been fine; so there's a distinct possibility there's something peculiar/unique about the dodgy ones. Another way to do it (and it could be argued a better way) is to use Acronis to make a ghost of the disk but store it as a VMDK. You can then create a new VMX and point it to that disk...
Give the converter a go first though seeing as it's free
With that said, we have got a couple more machines that have been converted and so far have been fine; so there's a distinct possibility there's something peculiar/unique about the dodgy ones. Another way to do it (and it could be argued a better way) is to use Acronis to make a ghost of the disk but store it as a VMDK. You can then create a new VMX and point it to that disk...
Give the converter a go first though seeing as it's free
Be careful though, I've had lots of problems with VMware converter... two machines we've moved from physical to virtual now have regular problems with disk consistency and other strange issues to do with locking etc. The fact that it only supports 2GB splits is a PITA too.
With that said, we have got a couple more machines that have been converted and so far have been fine; so there's a distinct possibility there's something peculiar/unique about the dodgy ones. Another way to do it (and it could be argued a better way) is to use Acronis to make a ghost of the disk but store it as a VMDK. You can then create a new VMX and point it to that disk...
Give the converter a go first though seeing as it's free
Thanks for the reply, thats exactly what I needed to know.
i too have had a few odd issues. the free version only lets you install the software to do hot conversions though? if you have a support contract you can get the bootable .iso which will let you do a cold conversion? i suspect the latter would be much more reliable?
The free version does hot conversions and the later versions are very clever indeed - it will do a full copy, then stop services on the source (eg sql services), do a delta copy of everything thats changed, shut it down and start the target 
Saying that, cold conversions are still more reliable if you must convert at all. I'd always build clean given the choice, especially if I'm moving from an HP server as they seem to cause massive performance problems
Saying that, cold conversions are still more reliable if you must convert at all. I'd always build clean given the choice, especially if I'm moving from an HP server as they seem to cause massive performance problems
We use doubletake to get our servers on to esxi, work's very well
Urgh, doubletake is the bane of my life!
No idea how much Platespin cost us but I can highly recommend it, been faultless so far.
The only downtime when converting a machine is when it shuts down the physical to bring up the virtual, else it's all done 'hot'
Of course I didn't buy it so it could be a bazillion pounds
The only downtime when converting a machine is when it shuts down the physical to bring up the virtual, else it's all done 'hot'
Of course I didn't buy it so it could be a bazillion pounds
Lol - glad I'm not the only one...
Great idea in principal but so unreliable and a pig in resource terms
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2Gb splits...?
Splits the VMDK into 2GB parts...
Cant say ive EVER seen that on any of the conversions ive done.
The block size your using is limiting that, not the converter.
Different block sizes give different maximum file sizes on a VMware file system.