Moving Linux from virtual to real

SlowCoder · 05-14-2009, 11:07 AM

I need to copy a linux server from its virtual environment (VMWare) to a real server. My plan is to boot the virtual client with Ghost, and copy the image to the new machine.

Since the hardware IDs will obviously change, what will I be up against when I boot up the real server?

eco · 05-14-2009, 11:26 AM

The way I did it was to:

a) boot of a live CD on both the VM and the 'real' server.
b) use dd and netcat to transfer the image of the VM to the new 'real' server.

I don't have the command at hand but you can find it on the net.

Hope this helps.

SlowCoder · 05-14-2009, 02:01 PM

Right, transferring the image is not the issue. The question is will there be any issues that need to be considered once the image has been transferred?

For instance, if you do the same process to a Windows install, since the architecture/hardware is probably going to be wildly different, Windows will probably choke and die.

eco · 05-14-2009, 04:49 PM

Windows will die, Linux wont! Why? Because all you have to do is recompile the kernel for the new hardware specs and voila, you're up and running.

I do this every 2 to 3 years with my laptop... from old to new.

You might have glitches with Graphical display and such but bare OS will be fine.