P2V Domain Controllers

Baz

Baz

Baz

Soldato
Joined
9 Dec 2002
Posts
4,375
Location
Peterborough
Right, tricky one this...

I am wanting to test my current environment virtually, as it will soon be upgraded from Windows 2000 & Exchange 2000 to Windows 2008 & Exchange 2007... Lot of things can go wrong with this...

To get it right on the night, I converted my current DC's (three of them) over two days, without realising the replication problems and tombstoned entries.

Without taking the current offline, what is the simplest way? Would I be able to use a backup through BackupExec and redirect it?

Thanks :)
 
Godsbrother said:
We did this and had no probs at all. We use ESX VI3 and just cloned the dc's and exchange servers connected them via virtual switches not connected to the lan and allwas peachy in fact it was a doddle.
Click to expand...

How long did it take to clone each DC & Exchange?
 
Looking now, there is a trial version of ESXPress, fully functional for 30 days :)

Now to get ESX installed and give it a whirl, thanks guys :)
 
andyd said:
Have a look at vRanger for individual VMDK backup. Thats what i currently use as well as the ESX volume is snapmirrored to our DR site.

A
Click to expand...

That's what we are going with eventually, when we buy the kit. looks the dogs bits :)
 
Excellent, reasonably priced I thought as well :)


Now to snapshot physical servers to make believe ones :D
 
Godsbrother said:
very very quick as ESX snapshots them to it and we run it all on a netapp fibre san so its pretty quick. You could use eXpress to create the backups for you then just restore them as a different VM and before you turn them on change the Vswitch.

We do all our main systems testing this way its a godsend compared to the 'old fashioned' way of needing real hardware!
Click to expand...

Looking at ESX VC Client, is this the Import Machine feature when you right click on a Host??
 
I thought it was, can you snapshot a Physical server into the virtual environment?
 
Godsbrother said:
yes you can, reccomend you shut it down first if its exchange tho first if you can to make sure its consistant.

express has some very nice features coming out in the next version but then they need to keep moving as esx v4 is also going to have some new capabilities
Click to expand...

No chance of shutting it down!

So at the moment, the recommended product is ESXPress?
 
iaind said:
Dont worry about shutting it down. If its just a DC it'll work fine, if its a DB application then chances are it'll be inconsistent but most are easy enough to repair
Click to expand...

Only Database is Exchange 2000, which isn't too difficult to repair :)

The only problem I have now is converting 3 physical DC's and not buggering up the replication logs, which is a pain to sort out....
 
iaind said:
Never had problems doing it myself...

Why not just convert one and build 2 new ones?
Click to expand...

That is what I was thinking! But with three Physical DC's, will converting DC1 set up problems as when it is virtual (on a seperate network) not be able to see the other 2?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom