VMware Converter

Pre-P2V Prep

1. Delete unused, unneeded files
2. De-install any unneeded applications or services

Performing a P2V

1. Install the application on the machine to be virtualised
   • Select Typical
   • May require a restart
2. Start-up VMware Converter application
3. Click on the large Convert Machine icon with the large green arrow in the bottom half of the screen, to start the Wizard
4. 1 - Specify Source
   • Leave Select source type: as Powered-on machine
   • Select This local machine, and click Next
5. 2 - Specify Destination
   • Leave Select destination type: as VMware Infrastructure virtual machine
   • Update VMware Infrastructure server details with the server (ESX or VC) and appropriate login details, and click Next
   • Select an appropriate destination host (if you're logged into a VC)
   • Update Virtual machine name as required
   • Select an appropriate Datastore, and click Next
6. 3 View/Edit Options
   • Data to copy
     • Un-tick any disks you don’t want (like tiny hardware utils partitions), click the drop down if you want to change the size of a disk during migration
   • Devices
     • Tweak CPU and memory settings as required
     • If your source machine uses IDE you must change the Disk Controller: to SCSI (LSI logic is standard for Windows machines)
   • Services
     • Update as required
   • Advanced Options
     • Review and change as required
     • There may be a warning that sysprep can't be found, normally this isn't a problem (assuming you want a clone of your current machine and don't want a new SID created)
   • Click 'Next
7. 4 - Ready to Complete
   • Review and click on Finish
8. Wait until the process has completed (the initial ETA is often inaccurate, after 5mins or so its fairly reliable), then shutdown the physical/source machine
9. Using the VI Client, connect to the Virtual Center Server, right click on the new virtual machine and choose edit setting
   • For all Serial Ports and any unwanted Network Adapters, select the item and click on Remove, finally click on OK
   • Right click on the virtual servers and choose Power On.
   • Wait for a little while as the server may reboot itself once or twice, then right click on the virtual server and choose Open Console. Logon to the server and setup the network card settings as appropriate.