Installation of ESX on existing SBS 2003

No - ESX needs to be installed directly on the hardware because it is a bare metal hypervisor. If you want to save you existing Windows installation you will need to back it up somehow (export), install ESX or ESXi, then you can create a virtual machine and restore (import) your Windows back onto that and continue to run it on ESX.

Good Luck

sorry for the confusion i dont want to install ESX itself on the existing O/S, i do want it directly on the hardware....im wondering if i can do a convert of box1 and installation of ESX (32-bit) without the help of another box.

any clearer? :)

Yes, see my post.

but before you do anything, what's the server?

what do u mean by that?  what is the O/S?  SBS 2003

What is the Made and Model of your Server, which the OS, SBS 2003 is installed on?

Only certain hardware supports running ESX - you need to make sure your server type is on the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL)

See http://www.vmware.com/go/hcl

SBS 2003 is Windows Small Business Server 2003. I'm going to guess that your OS is an OEM copy? If that's the case you'll have a licening issue on your hands. I'd recommend you download the VMware Converter mentioned above, migrate to VM Player to test your migration strategy/process. You'll likly be presented with an activation screen when you boot the SBS server (there are ways around this but it's not 'legal').

I don't see a real easy way; if you do a P2V conversion you really need to convert to an ESX host. You may need to setup a temporay ESX host and migrate your system to, then install ESX on the one you want then move the server back... Make sense?

1. Setup temp ESX host.
2. P2V your production server.
3. Install ESX on your production hardware.
4. Move your virtual production server to production ESX...

You can also check out PlateSpin. It's a far superior P2V application. Most importantly, you can do a conversion the other way; a V2P conversion! It's a great saftey net!

http://www.platespin.com/powerstore/

Best of luck.

Actually so long as the SBS goes back on the original hardware there likely isn't any licensing issue because the OEM license is tied to the physical hardware where it runs. That would be my interpretation anyway.

The OS will see a new BOIS and new hardware. You will be prompted to activate and you will be presented with a hurdle. I've migrated several OEM copies and 100% of the time I get the warning. There are ways around that; legal or not.

I can guarantee Microsoft won't agree with OEM licenses on VM even if it's on OEM equipment. I would say you should be permitted; but I'm not Microsoft...

Hi

@bgoering I agree with you. And I think this is the right way.

But will the Microsoft agree with us? :)

Jail

Hello,
ESX(i) is an OS, you will need to install this direclty on the hardware. If what you want to do is preserv the SBS 2003 Server you could convert this using any P2V or Image creation tool. VMware provides an standalone converter tool for free that you could use for the convertion.  
And another thing, OEM Software is tied to the server license, that means that the legal thing to do is to get a new license for the SBS server as soon as you virtualize the machine in order to don't break the license agreement.
Good luck with your project!

Thanks guys...!