Question

VMware ESX 4.0 Cloning issue.

Asked by: JD_Powers

We're trying to clone (cold) a powered off VM. The process takes approx 4 hours then reveals the following: "Number of virtual devices exceeds the maximum for a given controller."

I haven't been able to find ANYTHING on vm communities that helps...they all talk about hot cloning or converting - when it's powered down, there are no devices attached. Please help.

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Asked On
2009-11-06 at 09:16:06ID24878589
Topic

VMware

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: ryder0707Posted on 2009-11-06 at 09:21:50ID: 25761058

Before the conversion starts, if i remember correctly, you can set the virtual hardwares to be created
Try lowering down the number for each virtual hardware not to exceed vsphere supported max config
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_config_max.pdf

 

by: JD_PowersPosted on 2009-11-06 at 09:43:36ID: 25761222

I don't think that is the case. The server has the bare mins for hardware, not even a DVD drive or any serial ports added. It's a bare min VM. But when it's powered off, I didn't think any devices were an issue...

 

by: ryder0707Posted on 2009-11-06 at 09:48:49ID: 25761276

 

by: paulsolovPosted on 2009-11-06 at 10:30:54ID: 25761688

how about using VMware vConverter to clone?  This may do the trick

 

by: JD_PowersPosted on 2009-11-06 at 10:39:19ID: 31651122

This is something we'll try as well. I can't actually do anything until next Thursday during our maintenance window. But I'll accept that as a solution, and when we upgraded to ESX 4.0 we had a lot of issues with the VM tools being properly upgrade. So I'll try a un-install and re-install.  Thanks for the help, and links.

 

by: paulsolovPosted on 2009-11-06 at 10:43:17ID: 25761804

You should be able to use vConverter with the original running.  Depending on resources the users may not know the difference.  Since the data may change you may not have the current information but may be worth a shot as a scheduled task in the middle of the night before or after backup.

Another option is to use Vizioncore vReplicator

 

by: paulsolovPosted on 2009-11-06 at 10:44:07ID: 25761817

BTW, be carefull with vmware tool and SQL Server 2000, the old vmware tools uninstalls a dll file needed for SQL 2000 to run.

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