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Vmware ESXI using EXISTING Virtual Machines
Hi all
If you've just started to use ESXi then you can also CONVERT your existing VM's into ESXI format.
I'm using an old Windows box for my esxi server - but as yet I haven't found a way to connect directly to any Windows partitions I've left on the server
So 1) COPY the VM's you want to import to a USB device before you "kill" your Windows box.
2) download and start up the vmware converter -- the conversion program is quite good -- prompts you all the way asking for SOURCE and TARGET files.
For SOURCE specify your existing VM
for TARGET specify IP address of your VM ESXI server giving user name (normally Root) and password.
Once it's done then you can get back into the Vsphere client to make any changes you moght want to the VM, and simply power it on.
After VM is powered on from the Vsphere client just connect to the console and then you should see the boot sequence of your newly copied VM. You might be asked to re-activate if its windows as the hardware is a bit different now.
It can take a few hours if you are copying from a USB drive and using a Wireless Lan to connect to the ESXi server. In my case a largish W2K3 virtual machine took about 5 hours but its far better than re-installing this VM again with all its applications from scratch.
The main problem in installing ESXi with domestic mobos is that it will bomb out if the LAN is not compatable -- almost ALL onboard LANS won't work.
Cheap one to get you started is INTEL 1000 pro --remember its got a small form factor so you have to be a bit tricky in mounting it on to a Tower type case as it wont fit in the normal slots (its half height) but you can fix this by slightly bending the back of the PC where you install normal sized PCI cards and just clip it on.
Next issues I want to deal with are Sound and removable USB's -- that will have to wait but at least the hardware is up and running together with two VM's Windows XP sp3 and Windows W2K3 server.
Enc screen shot of the conversion process.
Cheers
jimbo