== Physical to Virtual (P2V) Migrations - Windows Server 2003 == P2V migrations were performed using the VMware Converter 3.0.3 Enterprise Edition cold-clone CD. {{{ $ unzip -l VMware-convertercd-3.0.3-89816.zip Archive: VMware-convertercd-3.0.3-89816.zip Length Date Time Name -------- ---- ---- ---- 242497536 04-29-08 11:14 coldclone.iso 229376 04-29-08 11:06 peTool.exe 73599 04-29-08 10:41 EULA.rtf 50446 04-29-08 10:41 open_source_licenses.txt -------- ------- 242850957 4 files $ }}} === Dell !OptiPlex 755 === The Windows Server 2003 operating system was installed on an !OptiPlex 755 PC in April, 2009. Back then, with default BIOS settings, tried to boot up from the Windows Server 2003 R2 installation CD -- got BSOD. (In BIOS: Drives : SATA Operation the default setting is "RAID Autodetect / AHCI". Other options are "RAID Autodetect / ATA", "RAID On", and "Legacy". If the "Legacy" mode got selected, CD boot / installation proceeded without problems.) To have an option to add second hard drive, and convert single disk into a RAID1 mirror, had to install Intel Matrix Storage Manager RAID driver at an early stage of the install. From http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2101 downloaded the IntelĀ® Matrix Storage Manager Floppy Configuration Utility (filename=f6flpy3288.zip Ver:8.8.0.1009 (03/13/2009)), un-ZIP-ed contents onto a floppy disk, and provided it to the installer (F6) on a USB-connected floppy disk drive. From the list of drivers selected the "ICH9R/DO/DH SATA AHCI Controller". Now, on first P2V conversion attempt, booted from the cold-clone CD, got BSOD as converter couldn't identify the array. Found old floppy, connected USB floppy drive. Booted from CD, selected F6 during boot, and specified the additional drivers on floppy disk. There was a message saying that driver provided is older than one in Windows, but selected to use driver from the floppy anyway. P2V conversion proceeded without a hitch after that. === Dell !PowerEdge 1900 === First attempt to cold-clone failed - "can't determine the operating system". Downloaded **DELL PERC 5/i Integrated RAID Controller** driver from http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?releaseid=R211422&deviceid=9182&fileid=297691 Un-packed archive into the current directory, then ran the {{{peTool}}} and created a customized boot CD. {{{ > peTool.exe -i coldclone.iso -d "C:\dell\drivers\R211422" Log: checking options ... Log: checking file existence ... load ISO image ... load ISO image succeeded load boot image ... load boot image succeeded extract boot image ... extract boot image succeeded Log: adding storage driver R211422 Log: adding driver name R211422 Log: adding driver name succeeded Log: adding storage driver R211422 succeeded load ISO image ... load ISO image succeeded Log: pack image file back ... pack the ISO image ... load source directory & boot image file ... load source directory & boot image file done write system reserved sector ... write system reserved sector done write primary volume descriptor ... write primary volume descriptor done write boot record ... write boot record done write volume descriptor set terminator ... write volume descriptor set terminator done write boot image ... write boot image done write path tables ... write path tables done write directory record and files ... 0%.........10%.........20%.........30%.........40%.........50%.........60%.........70%.........80%.........90%.........100% write directory record and files done pack ISO image succeeded Log: pack image file back succeeded Log: clean up ... Log: clean up succeeded > > move coldclone.iso coldclone-R211422.iso > }}} === Dell !PowerEdge 830 === Downloaded **DELL CERC SATA 1.5/6ch RAID Controller** driver from http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?&releaseid=R168588&deviceid=5646&fileid=229185 and created a new CD image. {{{ > peTool.exe -i coldclone-R211422.iso -d ".\R168588" > move coldclone-R211422.iso coldclone-R168588_A8-R211422.iso }}} === Dell !PowerEdge 840 === Downloaded **Dell SAS 5/iR Adapter** RAID controller driver from http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?deviceid=10269&fileid=267804&releaseid=R194052 and created yet another CD image. {{{ > peTool.exe -i coldclone-R168588_A8-R211422.iso -d ".\R194052" > move coldclone-R168588_A8-R211422.iso coldclone-R168588_A8-R194052-R211422.iso }}} === During / After Conversion === There is an option to install VMwareTools during conversion. DON'T! After cloning, there were plenty of configuration changes [from the virtual machine's operating system standpoint]. Got rid of obsolete devices/drivers by doing the following: from Command Prompt, ran "{{{set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1}}}", then (in the same window) "{{{devmgmt.msc}}}". Uninstalled all light-gray [missing] devices. Installed VMwareTools, set graphical hardware acceleration to Full. Upon conversion, virtual machine gets a new vNIC - by default it gets IP settings from DHCP server. If need to assign static address - have to do it manually (either on the VM, or on DHCP server). If any of the software packages installed are licensed per computer MAC address - change MAC address in Windows (not on ESX, for the latter would allow to choose MAC address from a pre-determined range only, not at random). === See Also === http://downloads.vmware.com/d/details/converter3/ZGQqYmpwdGJAdA== \\ VMware vCenter Converter 3.0.3 Enterprise Edition http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1026714 \\ Downloading the VMware Converter Boot CD