Question

Move VMWare Server VM's from one server to another?

Asked by: willp2

Hello,

I need to move some virtual machines that are running on VMWare Server 1.01 from one VMWare server to another. The VM's are stored on different drives on each VMWare Server, the one they are running on has the VM's in d:\Virtual Machines and the server they are going to the VM's need to be in f:\Virtual Machines.

When I tried to just move the VM's over, then open OK, but I cannot start them. I get the error:
"failed to open the disk 'e:\virtual machines\iiscluster1\iiscluster1-000001.vmdk' or one of the snapnhot disks it depends on
Reason:Failed to lock the file"

When I look at the logs, it looks like it is looking in the path from the old server the files. I did check to make sure that I have the rights needed and that nothing is read only.

How do I go about getting my VM's moved from one place to another?

Thanks

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Asked On
2006-10-18 at 13:44:31ID22029598
Tags

vmware

,

lock

,

failed

,

server

Topic

Operating Systems Miscellaneous

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
5

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Answers

 

by: TolomayPosted on 2006-10-18 at 14:33:00ID: 17761082

Each Virtual machine has a .vmx file associated with it that contains the location of each disk file used by the virtual machine. I would look in there (if you haven't already) to determine that the location corresponds to where the vmdk file has moved to.

We tend to keep our virtual machines and vmdk files in the same folder and in this instance you can move them easily (as long as the filename stays the same) as vm server will default to the same directory when it looks for the files unless there is a different path specified in the vmx file.

 

by: willp2Posted on 2006-10-18 at 14:36:28ID: 17761120

Thanks for the quick reply. All these are in the same folder. Our .vmx files don't have a path in them. Can I add a path? Does anyone know what the sytax should look like?

Thanks

 

by: Phadke_hemantPosted on 2006-10-19 at 01:10:44ID: 17763941

make sure that the VMs are not in use while moving

 

by: willp2Posted on 2006-10-19 at 09:14:29ID: 17767102

Thanks for the links. I had look through the forums, but somehow missed this.

Here was the answer:

http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?messageID=444195&#444195


"With the virtual machine powered off, remove the virtual disk using the virtual hardware wizard (VM -> Settings)
Copy the .vmdk to your D: drive, now add the virtual disk back to the virtual machine configuration using the virtual hardware wizard. "

Thanks!

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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