How to import VHD into Hyper V 2012

Hi

I have a VM server made up of 3 vhd's.

I need to move it to a new Hyper V server running 2012 Hyper V.

I have powered down the VM and then tried to import the server using Hyper V manager.

It wont find the server, presumably because they are vhd files not vhdx files.

What are my options?

thanks
timb551Asked:
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Casey WeaverNetwork EngineerCommented:
Go through the New VM wizard, and when it asks to add a disk, select add an existing disk, then browse to your VHD and select it.
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timb551Author Commented:
So copy the files over to the new server and then add them to a new vm.  Nice and easy, thanks
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Casey WeaverNetwork EngineerCommented:
Yes, sorry, I thought you had the VHD in hand already. Now do you actually have a VHD? Is this from VMWare Workstation?
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timb551Author Commented:
The vhd's are sitting on another server at the moment and I'm copying them across. They are hyper v vhd files.
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Casey WeaverNetwork EngineerCommented:
Ok I re-read, and I'm not sure why I thought you were coming from VMware. It would be easier if you exported from Hyper-V old and then took that folder of exported files to your new Hyper-V server and imported them. That brings all your configurations over. If your configurations of the virtual machine don't matter, however, then copying the VHD and using it with a new VM on the new Hyper-V server works just fine.
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timb551Author Commented:
When you say configuration what are you referring to?  Can you export over the network to the new server and the import locally?
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Casey WeaverNetwork EngineerCommented:
No not the server level stuff. Only the VM level stuff. If you export the VM, then when you import it all the settings remain the same (memory settings, network settings, storage settings, integration settings ect)
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timb551Author Commented:
sorry bit confused.  Looks like export and import is the way to go but i dont have enough disk space on the current hyper v server to export to.

I dont see where i can go from here, if i cannot export to a share on the new server.
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Casey WeaverNetwork EngineerCommented:
Do you have an external hard drive you could hook to the host to move the files? I don't suppose there is network connectivity between the hosts so you could set up a simple share just to do the move? You could set up a share on the receiving Hyper-V server, then have the old hyper-v server export directly to that share.
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timb551Author Commented:
they are both on the same network so as long as i can export across the network then that fine i will do that.
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Casey WeaverNetwork EngineerCommented:
Yes that would work.
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timb551Author Commented:
im struggling with file permissions to be able to export over the network as neither hyper v server is a domain member server.

Is it worth considering converting the vhd files to vhdx files and then importing.

I am conscious though that i didnt want to touch the source vm really in case i need to go back to it.
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Casey WeaverNetwork EngineerCommented:
Is setting Everyone permissions read and write not working? I really think for your situation a network share is going to be best.
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Casey WeaverNetwork EngineerCommented:
Also make sure Network discover is on, and the firewall ports are open (or temporarily disable the firewall).
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timb551Author Commented:
apparently "everyone" is not good enough when both servers are not on a domain and i cannot work out how to give access.
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Casey WeaverNetwork EngineerCommented:
Hows the NTFS permissions?
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timb551Author Commented:
Everyone has permission to all files and folders but I cannot work out how to specify the source server to have access across the workgroup. Might have to delay the move and go for a USB drive export and import.
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Casey WeaverNetwork EngineerCommented:
USB will certainly get the job done. It's never fast though, just because of the nature of he massive amount of writing to such a slow drive as they typically put in those things. Average about 5-6 hours per TB writing, about 3-4 hours reading.
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timb551Author Commented:
Ended up exporting to USB and then importing.  Took a while but worked perfectly.  thanks for all your help.
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