vCentre standalone converter 5.0
We are going to be converting the following and would like to know if anyone has had any issues converting a similar type server setup(s) below:
1. Windows 2003 DC, file/printer, Exchange 2007, DFS, Backup Exec 2010, proxy, HP Array manager, HP SIM. HP insight diags, SQL 2008 express and Mgt tools, Sophos.
2. Windows 2003 DC, file/print, SQL 2005 Standard, DFS, HP Array manager, HP SIM. HP insight diags, Sophos, Sharepoint 3.0,
3. Win2k3 member server, Sophos Console, AV, Veeam, DFS.
4. Win2k3 member server, Oracle 8, variuos HP SIM & tools, DFS.
5. Win2k8 member server running RDS.
According to the vm note is need to just stop AV, exchange and SQL server services....
We will deploy a new DC on the ESXi server which will help AD. I plan to P2V server item 3 first...
Suggestions.?
1. Windows 2003 DC, file/printer, Exchange 2007, DFS, Backup Exec 2010, proxy, HP Array manager, HP SIM. HP insight diags, SQL 2008 express and Mgt tools, Sophos.
2. Windows 2003 DC, file/print, SQL 2005 Standard, DFS, HP Array manager, HP SIM. HP insight diags, Sophos, Sharepoint 3.0,
3. Win2k3 member server, Sophos Console, AV, Veeam, DFS.
4. Win2k3 member server, Oracle 8, variuos HP SIM & tools, DFS.
5. Win2k8 member server running RDS.
According to the vm note is need to just stop AV, exchange and SQL server services....
We will deploy a new DC on the ESXi server which will help AD. I plan to P2V server item 3 first...
Suggestions.?
Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
Coldclone if possible, otherwise disable all the services.
ASKER
Do i need to transfer FSMO roles before or after migration? Server 1 has RID master etc. What affect will this have on exchange?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Also after you clone open up an Admin Command Prompt and type in this.
set devmgr_show_nonpresent_dev
Start the device manager
Once you have the device manager open click on the view menu and click “Show Hidden Devices” Now delete or uninstall the orphaned or nonpresent devices. They have a little lighter color than the active devices. They are not really grayed out but they are a little washed in color.
set devmgr_show_nonpresent_dev
Start the device manager
Once you have the device manager open click on the view menu and click “Show Hidden Devices” Now delete or uninstall the orphaned or nonpresent devices. They have a little lighter color than the active devices. They are not really grayed out but they are a little washed in color.
Make sure that the relevant firewall ports are opened between the physical machines & the ESXi hosts.
The following KB article sums it up
Firewall ports
The following KB article sums it up
Firewall ports
ASKER
Ok, new DC. Transfer roles to new VM DC. Then cold clone exchange and SQL DC's?
Where can i download the cold clone?
Where can i download the cold clone?
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ASKER
If i move the roles to a VM DC & the exchange or SQL DC is offline then what can go wrong with the P2V exactly?
Corruption, when the P2V is occuring.
ASKER
Grr, ok. I see dcpromo'ing a DC with exchange on will screw it!! Arse.
I'll plan around building new DC's x2 and split over the 2x hosts (no SAN). I assume DC's shouldn't be restored if they have been offline for some time? I was planning on replicating with acronis, but again if offline for hours, days then AD will be a mess?
Exchange: Shouldn't be an issue migrating from 2007 to 2010. More work than i had planned for. We use public folders, and SCR for DR.... What do i need to factor in here?
DFS. Simply stop services and move data, re-create shares, permissions, namespaces...?
That should sort out servers 1 & 2... i hope...?
I'll plan around building new DC's x2 and split over the 2x hosts (no SAN). I assume DC's shouldn't be restored if they have been offline for some time? I was planning on replicating with acronis, but again if offline for hours, days then AD will be a mess?
Exchange: Shouldn't be an issue migrating from 2007 to 2010. More work than i had planned for. We use public folders, and SCR for DR.... What do i need to factor in here?
DFS. Simply stop services and move data, re-create shares, permissions, namespaces...?
That should sort out servers 1 & 2... i hope...?
Correct, never restore old DCs. They will be out of date, not replicate.
ASKER
And if i down all DC's and P2V the only one that on????
if you shutdown all DCs and P2V, and then bring-up the Virtual Only, you'll be fine.
ASKER
?????????? - right, ok.
This is server1, so it will have AD and Exchange (obviously with all services stopped. Is it comprehended cold or hot p2v in this case?
This is server1, so it will have AD and Exchange (obviously with all services stopped. Is it comprehended cold or hot p2v in this case?
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ASKER
Ok, i assume you mean we should P2V all DC's at the same time to avoid issues?
Problem is we have a clone of the above scenario @ our DR site over a VPN, so we cant down all DC's at the same time.
For Servers 1 & 2 - and 1-dr and 2-dr, how best to convert? Down both DR servers, down server 2 and cold clone server 1 (leave off) and power on in VM environment and power bakc on servers 2 - 1dr and 2-dr?
Problem is we have a clone of the above scenario @ our DR site over a VPN, so we cant down all DC's at the same time.
For Servers 1 & 2 - and 1-dr and 2-dr, how best to convert? Down both DR servers, down server 2 and cold clone server 1 (leave off) and power on in VM environment and power bakc on servers 2 - 1dr and 2-dr?
ASKER
has anyone used acronis P2V cold cloning software?
ASKER
and provided all DC's are offline (powered off) then I don't need to create a temp DC on the esxi host?
Not really, but the recommended solution is to create new server and promote to DC and Transfer Roles.
Yes, we've used Acronis.
ASKER
And have you migrated an exchange/DC server with it - cold cloning?
i plan to down ALL servers (@ both sites) and cold clone the live DC's and power up on VM host....
i plan to down ALL servers (@ both sites) and cold clone the live DC's and power up on VM host....
Yes, it works, all cold clone products work reliable, when you get the network interface and drivers working!
ASKER
So in answer to my initial Q, then i will be able to convert without issues?
Yes, but all phyiscal hardware has it's challenges when it comes to cold clone P2V.
ASKER
but only getting the virtual nics working? it wont affect AD in any way?
not the virtual NICs, coldclone somtimes there's some configuration required to get the physical nics working correctly in the coldclone.
ASKER
hmm, is there any details on how to ensure it works, or does the clone report that it fails before you power on the VM?
you will not even get a clone, if physical networking does not work, or if incorrect, will take many hours to complete, due to incorrect settings.
ASKER
which product do you use?
ASKER
do you recommend we do this:
'removing HP software, Agents, Hidden Devices etc'
....on the physical box before the P2V?
'removing HP software, Agents, Hidden Devices etc'
....on the physical box before the P2V?
Remove HP software before P2V - yes.
Remove Hidden Devices after on the Virtual Version - yes.
Remove Hidden Devices after on the Virtual Version - yes.
ASKER
Ok, cool. will try a P2V today on a Dell member server...
ASKER
and what is the general results after P2V'ing a member server with 2x nics - teamed?
two nics, not teamed
ASKER
ok, thus, delete both (after conversion/restore) and add new vnet3 and power on?
ASKER
ok, my win7 PC fails to work. It failed to create NIC, fine. Created new one and booted up ok, but not showing NIC on client and no DHCP IP on summary tab...
will vmware tools fix?
will vmware tools fix?
possible, these are the trials and experiences you can expect to workthrough with a P2V.
You should always install VMware Tools. As for whether it fixes it. Difficult to say.
P2V and their issues are the top questions we get on EE, and not ALL are answered successfully, there are so many variables.
You should always install VMware Tools. As for whether it fixes it. Difficult to say.
P2V and their issues are the top questions we get on EE, and not ALL are answered successfully, there are so many variables.
ASKER
not what I needed to hear...
Is it OS, software or hardware that causes these types of issues?
Is it OS, software or hardware that causes these types of issues?
Many issues with OS, software and hardware. Just be patient, understand the Best Practice Guides, documents, you will experience issues, some P2Vs will work 100%, others will fail.
Professionally, we do not use VMware Converter (that's why it's free!), we use Novell Platespin now, rebrended as NetIQ Platespin Migrate, to complete mass P2V, and V2P migrations.
https://www.netiq.com/products/migrate/
Professionally, we do not use VMware Converter (that's why it's free!), we use Novell Platespin now, rebrended as NetIQ Platespin Migrate, to complete mass P2V, and V2P migrations.
https://www.netiq.com/products/migrate/
ASKER
OK, will have a look.
Going to test the convert using vmware converter and see what it does!!!
Going to test the convert using vmware converter and see what it does!!!
ASKER
Right, finished testing on a 'live' member server.
Acronis - P2V, which took a total of 16hours to backup to NAS and restore to ESXi....
Booted VM and it lost its static IP.
What affect would this have on a core/critical server i.e. AD, SQL, Exchange when attempting the same thing????
Stop & disable ALL services for Exchange, AD and SQL?
Acronis - P2V, which took a total of 16hours to backup to NAS and restore to ESXi....
Booted VM and it lost its static IP.
What affect would this have on a core/critical server i.e. AD, SQL, Exchange when attempting the same thing????
Stop & disable ALL services for Exchange, AD and SQL?
All servers after a P2V needed a POST check for issues, before they are Production ready.
ASKER
Sure. I checked the settings before power on and all acronis does is backs ups the servers HDD and imports into a default VM (HDD(s) only), so i added the NIC (vnic3) and powered up.
So, would disabling & stopping the services before i power it up and assign its ip again ensure the server doesnt break? I'll then re-enable and start the services after ip change...?
So, would disabling & stopping the services before i power it up and assign its ip again ensure the server doesnt break? I'll then re-enable and start the services after ip change...?
We usually power up the P2Ved VM, not connected to the network, and then make changes, and then once we are happy with all the post P2Ved cleanup, turn on the VM.
All services are usually set to manual/disabled before the P2V, so these would ALL need reseting and enabling. (set to automatic etc)
You need to understand, why the Servers NIC, IP address ahs changed?
All services are usually set to manual/disabled before the P2V, so these would ALL need reseting and enabling. (set to automatic etc)
You need to understand, why the Servers NIC, IP address ahs changed?
ASKER
I seem to recall an error on the acrnois boot cd with the network, possibly....
Or
The fact that the NIC had to be added to the VM......?
Or
The fact that the NIC had to be added to the VM......?
Well if you are adding a NIC, it will be different, new MAC Address, so this could be the reason.
ASKER
OK, ran another backup and it has added the NIC into the VM this time. The new VM NIC doesnt show a MAC
I will re-run the restore of the old backup and see what it does.
I will re-run the restore of the old backup and see what it does.
ASKER
Still odd. The new backup that had the NIC added to the VM after restore actually loses its IP. Its added as a flexible adapter?!
Vmtools installed.
Should i be adding a new NIC on the VM and specifying a MAC before its powered on?
Looking like P2V tool is pants.
Vmtools installed.
Should i be adding a new NIC on the VM and specifying a MAC before its powered on?
Looking like P2V tool is pants.
part of the P2V process should add a NIC, with a MAC address, e.g. alter configuration of the VMX, virtual machine.
it has to add a virtual nic...
it has to add a virtual nic...
ASKER
So by me adding the NIC its going to cause issues?
you should not have to add a nic.
the P2Ved process should create a VM with as many NICs as the physical server had. (before you power on, check configuration of VM)
the P2Ved process should create a VM with as many NICs as the physical server had. (before you power on, check configuration of VM)
ASKER
Ah then i think it must have installed the DRAC RAS Virtual NIC and not the 2x physical adapters.
There wasn't any errors.
So, im trying vcentre converter.
There wasn't any errors.
So, im trying vcentre converter.
ASKER
Ok the vcentre converter has worked fine, pulling over all the devices, CPU, RAM and especially the NIC.
Tried the MOA 2.4.1 but failing to load converter5.
Acronis is worse than vcentre converter...
Tried the MOA 2.4.1 but failing to load converter5.
Acronis is worse than vcentre converter...
ASKER
Member servers worked fine (in the end). Not entertaining AD!
ASKER
add to that - acronis backup recovery for vmprotect is pants also for p2v...