Cool feature of the VMware Converter plugin

How about backing up that dreadful application/server that you couldn’t or did not wanted to virtualize to your ESX environment? It could be useful to have a copy of a server that for whatever reason you did not virtualize. The new VMware Converter plugin for VirtualCenter gives you this option. You can create a reoccurring schedule for a p2v, you can even save several version of the converted machine. How cool is that! Seems like a great way to backup a machine!

How do I do this:

  1. click on scheduled tasks
  2. click new and pick “import a machine”
  3. select “physical” and enter the servers name/ip and username and password
  4. select the disks you want to import
  5. type a name for the VM
  6. select the destination host
  7. select a datastore
  8. select a network
  9. and schedule the task!

Close
VMware Converter scheduling


3 Responses to “ Cool feature of the VMware Converter plugin ”

  1. That is very kewl. Converter has come a long way. There was a time I wouldnt use it at all because of troubles Ive had with it, and resorted to Ghost on a BARTPE.
    I need to go back and download it and check it out.

  2. just one little problem.

    Unless Vmware has changed it, a live converted machine, ca have a difference of 150 mb, and still be ok, according to Vmware converter.

    So if you are backing up a machine, that has a lot of changing data, like a SQL etc. then you might end up with a machine, thats useless, when disaster strike.

    But other then that, i agree on what you say.

  3. [...] been on a bit of a roll, with this post on using the VMware Converter plugin to schedule P2V conversions as a means of backup and this one pointing out a PDF on how to install ESXi 3.5 Update 2 on a USB [...]

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