Convert Physical Linux install to virtual machine

linuxroks88 · 12-20-2008, 12:30 PM

I have a physical CentOS server install that I need to convert to a vmware ESXi Server. I found this tutorial:

http://www.howtoforge.com/how-to-vir...-linux-machine

Assuming this works, it sure beats having to install the OS from scratch and then move all the data and apps over manually.

My questions are as follows:

How does this incorporate the volume layout (i.e., multiple partitions) into the virtual machine? Does the conversion process see the partitions and create them accordingly in the vm?

What am I to expect after the conversion? Does the vm just "come up" or may there be additional steps to take to get it to boot properly?

Any other advice or information?

unSpawn · 12-20-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxroks88

Does the conversion process see the partitions and create them accordingly in the vm?

There's no "conversion" basically it's just a 'dd' clone operation except you wedge netcat in between to move your data over the network.

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxroks88

Does the vm just "come up" or may there be additional steps to take to get it to boot properly?

Reread step 11. Then there's probably something to say about checking Vmware BIOS settings and SCSI vs. IDE drive emulation but I'm sure you know much more about Vmware than I do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxroks88

Any other advice or information?

Practice never hurts so maybe practice with a relatively small system and see what you run into?..