Convert Acronis Tib image to VMWARE

As far as I know the Acronis bootable cd will allow you to restore the image without having to install an OS first. That's one of the benefits of Acronis --> bare metal restore.

Just boot with the Acronis cd and select Restore --> Image.

I do not know if you can restore images and just boot with it in vmware with your version. I take the following steps with images (i'm using ghost, acronis and snapshot).

1. Image the server
2. restore the image on a vmware workstation (don't boot the restored image)
3. run vmware converter to convert the restored image to a vmware server (esx or workstation).
4. Start the converted image
5. uninstall all hardware related software (like hp software, or ibm serverraid for example)
6. finished
(in a nutshell)

I just giveup on Vmware Server.
It just fail with errors about wrong OS.
THe image is a windows 2003 64 bit and the OS were vmware is intall is vista 32 bit.
I chose the Guest OS 32 and 64 bit and nothing work.
I decide to go with Microsoft Virtual Server. It's easy to install and configure but when I boot I get a error message  like: Reboot and Select proper Boot Device or Insert Boot Media in the Selected Boot Device"
I have the Acronis startup CD insert already.
I read an article that say that Microsoft Virtual Server is no working very well with 3th party boot cd.
All I want to do is in case of a disaster be able to take the tib file that is create in Acronis and restore on a virtual machine. I read on the Acronis site the following "New! Convert image files to VMDK or VHD for instant virtualization  Supports major virtualization operating systems from VMware®, Microsoft®, SWsoft® and Parallels" Any idea how this is done?
Thank you

64bit guest os works on a 64 bit host, not on a 32 bit host.

I will give it a try with both 64 bit. What I would like to know is what Acronis say by "Convert image files to VMDK or VHD for instant virtualization" This is a nice feature if we can just take the tib file and converted to a vmware file and then just use the player to run the image.

You might be interested in VMWare Converter as well: http://www.vmware.com/products/converter/
this allows you to convert your physical machine's OS and installed programs into a virtual machine. I don't think it offers any compression though.

I already try VM converter in the past and it work fine to convert a physical machine to a Virtual machine but if the disaster strike and you need to convert back the virtual machine to a physical machine you are stuck. I prefer Acronis. Acctually I just find out how to Convert the tib to vmware.
In the Tools menu there is an option call Convert to Virtual. I will try it in the next few hours and let you know how it work. Is there any advantage to play the virtual machine with the vmware server than with the vmware player. I'm looking for the less memory and CPU intensive one.
Thank you

The difference between the vmware player and the vmware server is mainly that the player only allows you to run an existing virtual machine.
The features of the vmware server that allow you to create new virtual machines, connect to the server remotely etc. are advantages IF you need that kind of functionality.

Regarding CPU workload, the player is a bit less intensive as it's designed to work as a standalone virtual machine player.

Hi intelglobe,

i don't think you can convert the acronis .rib file into a vmware virtual machine straight up. Vmware has not made that support. you can do so with shadowprotect spf files and ghost ghs files.

As an alternative, you can create a new VM in either workstation or vmware server, please make sure it's the latest version, and choose the correct type of os/virtual machine.

Make sure that the image file, that is .tib files are made avilavle via the netowrk or on usb disk.
configure the vm to boot from the acronis boot cd, and restore the image on that Vm, as if it was another server/pc/whatever.. you may have to configure the netowrking componenet of the acronis boot pe, and restore that imageor restore from USB HDD..

let me know on how you go with it.

cheers

Well on Acronis Echo server you have the the option to convert a image to a vm or microsoft virtual server and 2 others but when I try I get an error missing arguments.
Also I try to restore my Dell server image that is Raid 1 sata to a normal HP workstion and I get a blue screen after restore. I was thinking that it suppose to be a bare metal restore and I can restore to any machine. I'm doing something wrong but not sure what.
I use Ghost years ago but I'm not familiar with the latest version. I believe is Ghost 12.
Can you tell me if it can not only do a schedule backup of the entire computer but also a bare metal restore on a diferent pc. Also how easy is to implement in VMWARE? You are saying the Vmware can convert ghs files to vm files?
I have 3 servers to backup that are mission critical and in case one died or something go wrong I need to be able to restore it fast to a virtual machine or to another machine until the problem is solved. They all have windows 2003 64 bit and one run DC and Exchange and another run SQL and a third one run a third party Software. All 3 have multiple partions and also hadve raid 1 on sata HD. What Software will work best in this case.
Thank you

You should have the Acronis True Image Universal restore options installed as well, before taking the image. further more, you should have a 64bit processor on which on your recovery server, otherwise the restore to bare metal will be sucessfull, but the OS will crash..

Thanks

Hmm
The PC I restore to is an AMD dual core 64 bit but the server is a intel. That may be the problem then.
In this case the Bare Metal restore is not a real 100% bare Metal. I guess the best way will be to restore to a Virtual machine but here again do I need to have the same 64 bit CPU

Acctually no. I just realized that I was using the restore cd that does nothave the universall restore. After I try with the Universall Restore it worked like a charm.
Thank you

Here is a way! I think you will like it. Forget trying to use VM Converter. just follow my instructions
TIBtoVMServer.pdf

junglecom,

What version of true image management console do you have - I don't have anything like that amount of options on my version.

Do you have to mount the tib file beforehand or somethign?

jbuzzard,

When JungleCom created their PDF file they were using 9.0 (or something similar).  Using the latest build (9.5) you go into the Enterprise Echo Server and choose 'Manage Backup Archives'.

From there your bottom option is Convert Backup to Virtual Disk.  Then you can follow the rest of the PDF tutorial.