Cold Clone CD with explorer-shell and VMware workstation

[continuum]

I believe I can port the ColdCloneCD to BartPE.

With explorer-shell and VMware-workstation on the same CD the Enterprise CD would become really useful.

If VMware is interested ... - I got a few questions.

- coldclone.exe launches factory.exe, eula.exe and then converter.exe - with which parameters does it call converter.exe ?

- is it possible to just add the coldclone options to the regular converter GUI ? If yes - how do I call converter.exe ?

Ulli

[continuum]

Just imagine you would have Cold Clone Converter on a LiveCD that can also do this ...


!http://sanbarrow.com/moa21/moa21_003small.jpg!


http://sanbarrow.com/moa21/moa21_003.jpg

[scerazy]

That would be great. Also with VistaPE

All that we need is the parameter that is passed to converter to startup

Seb

[scerazy]

Try from command prompt

vmware-ufad ufa.xml

and then again from another command prompt

converter -boot

Tested it from VistaPE within WS6 & it worked like charm (copying to network share)

Message was edited by:

scerazy

[continuum]

Hi Seb

looks promising.

Can you please tell me wether you use the original path

X:\vmware-converter and if you get any message on

vmware-ufad.exe ufa.xml

I get : using system libcrypto, version 90709F

and then a blinking cursor on the next line ...

Do you eastablish vstor2driver in registry ?

[scerazy]

The ufad service just sits there (running as an application)

One could install it as service (check its command line options), but I do not see the point (if it runs OK this way)

And you know that it runs, as without it converter can not select source

I saw briefly the vstor2 error, but had to go home, so will try to look later how to make it run (and from where, as I could not see it in the vmware-converter folder)

I run it from d:\programs\vmware-converter under VistaPE

Seb

[continuum]

Hey - it really works from VistaPE so easily - hmmm - can't start it with 2k3-PE ???

[scerazy]

OK, few hours later & it is all sorted!!!

All that was needed:

VistaPE build with FBWF cache size of 256 (step 3 of Build)

check http://www.boot-land.net/forums/VistaPE-f51.html

and Vmware-Converter copied to Programs (without script, just by hand to Target, re-run ISO creation script to get the ISO that contains all the needed files)

Ones fully booted run d:\programs\Vmware-Converter\INSTMSI.EXE

That step allows running VMware Converter.msi

Install to defaults (on X: - no matter, it is RAM, will be gone after reboot)

All the agent setrvices do get installed & started

Run converter -boot & convert what you want to where you want it

Good luck & feel free to ask any questions

Seb

Message was edited by:

scerazy

[continuum]

That sounds more familiar :smileywink:

In a plugin for the free edition I used to put that driver into system32 and establish it in registry. Guess we have to do the same here.

Anyway - the tricky part is done I think ...

[continuum]

My last post was already outdated ...

Still got some issues with target-selection.

I guess I have to remove the vstor2 that comes with WS 6 to make the vstor2-p2v30 work cleanly.

Maybe that is related to network also ...

Anyway - thanks. I never thought about the most logical switch :smileywink:

[scerazy]

OK, here is fully working solution.

Create VistaPE using Winbuilder (include what you want in it)

Do not create ISO, as we will need to adjust the .wim file

I could not be bothered to create script for Winbuilder for Converter, so will describe the manual steps taken:

\- mount wim for read/write access (imagex or even easier the Gui-Imagex wrapper.exe)

\- open registry on your PC (I used W2K3, should works also on XP) & load hive

"mountpoint"\Windows\System32\config\system as SYSTEM_00

\- import reg file (text below) to the registry

\- copy VSTOR2-P2V30.SYS to mountpoint"\Windows\System32\drivers

\- (optional) copy serviwin.exe (from http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/serviwin.html) to "mountpoint"\Windows\

\- unmount the image

-copy VMWARE-CONVERTER to ie Winbuilder\Target\VistaPE-beta\Programs\ (so it is accessible in VistaPE session - that can also be on USB key etc, as VistaPE does allow it - one of the reasons to use it!)

\- create ISO in Winbuilder

\- boot from the ISO (or CD if written to)

\- from command prompt run "net start vstor2-p2v30" or use serviwin to start this driver/service

\- from command prompt run "VMWARE-UFAD ufa.xml" and then "converter -boot"

Runs perfect, no questions asked

CUT HERE

\----

---

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

\[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM_00\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\LEGACY_VSTOR2-P2V30]

"NextInstance"=dword:00000001

\[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM_00\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\LEGACY_VSTOR2-P2V30\0000]

"Service"="vstor2-p2v30"

"Legacy"=dword:00000001

"ConfigFlags"=dword:00000000

"Class"="LegacyDriver"

"ClassGUID"="\{8ECC055D-047F-11D1-A537-0000F8753ED1}"

"DeviceDesc"="VMware vstor2 driver"

\[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM_00\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\LEGACY_VSTOR2-P2V30\0000\Control]

"\*NewlyCreated*"=dword:00000000

\[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM_00\ControlSet001\Services\vstor2-p2v30]

"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001

"Start"=dword:00000002

"Type"=dword:00000001

"DisplayName"="VMware vstor2 driver"

"ImagePath"="SYSTEM32
DRIVERS
vstor2-p2v30.sys"

\[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM_00\ControlSet001\Services\vstor2-p2v30\Enum]

"0"="Root
LEGACY_VSTOR2-P2V30
0000"

"Count"=dword:00000001

"NextInstance"=dword:00000001

\----

---

CUT HERE

[continuum]

Seb - can you please look up what should be the next step ?

I don't get past this when calling vmware-ufad ufa.xml

\[2007-07-11 02:35:51.296 'VmdbAdapter' 1900 info] Using new VMDB VMOMI serialization format

\[2007-07-11 02:35:51.296 'Ufa' 1900 info] Plugin started

\[2007-07-11 02:35:51.296 'App' 1900 info] \[plugin,119] UfaClientPlugin Start

\[2007-07-11 02:35:51.312 'App' 1900 info] \[plugin,132] UfaSlavePlugin Start

\[2007-07-11 02:35:51.312 'App' 1900 info] \[plugin,182] SysMigrationPlugin Start

\[2007-07-11 02:35:51.312 'App' 1900 info] \[plugin,119] SysReconfigPlugin Start

\[2007-07-11 02:35:51.312 'App' 1900 info] \[plugin,126] VMImporterPlugin Start[/code]

[scerazy]

That is still on W2K3 PE?

The message comes from the log file, right? (as the command prompt started vmware-ufad does not give any output)

Do you have correct setting for %temp%

Does the network is correct (this you can check with netconfig.exe)

If you look in the xml you will see two ports, nothing else on your system using these ports?

I can not thik why the ufad-p2v service does not start, sorry

Seb

[continuum]

I changed ufa.xml so that the service talks to screen.

Yes - that is based on 2k3-sp1 - I have 270Mb free space in systemroot and 60 Gb free space in temp so that is no issue. It doesn't even work if I run the installer - strange.

I guess it is still something wrong with the Workstation - plugin.

Seb - can you please tell me what step you get next if you change the ufa.xml to print to screen

Ulli

[scerazy]

I get the same initial screen when run vmware-ufad

Then when converter is started & machine starts being converted then the extra info shows (basically all the process that is happening)

What do you get when trying to convert the machine?

Seb

[continuum]

I can select the partitions and then the next screen with target-selection comes with everything greyed out.

So that is the end of the show at least for now .... ?

Can you please show me your ufa.xml ?

[scerazy]

Below, you do have the converter version of vstor2-p2v30 running (not the workstation one)

Seb

<!<soapPort>8086</soapPort>>

<!<vmdbAdapterListener>both</vmdbAdapterListener>>

<!<vmdbAdapterListener>tcp</vmdbAdapterListener>>

<!<vmdbPort>9006</vmdbPort>>

[continuum]

Thumbs up - now I can connect to ESX or create local VM.

Oh dear - wonder why it was so easy with VistaPE.

For BartPE based on 2k3-sp1 I need a much more complicated plugin - but it should be possible.

[continuum]

!http://sanbarrow.com/gifs/yahoo.gif!

first successful import to ESX

[scerazy]

What did you have to change to get it working with BartPE?

[continuum]

I had to add about 30 files to out-of-the-box BartPE and wrote an inf -file of about 550Kb.

Thats quite large for an inf-file and I think it will drop in size to maybe 30 - 50 kb once I know it a little bit better.

[scerazy]

Stop using BartPE

As I said in VistaPE I did not have to do anything

[RDPetruska]

Yes, but VistaPE requires certain licensing from MS, no? BartPE does not.

[scerazy]

That is totally NOT true!!!!

VistaPE can be build from a free Windows AIK (downloadable from MS)

Check http://www.boot-land.net/forums/VistaPE-f51.html

In fact it is more legal than BartPE (which requires W2K3 server media in first place)

Message was edited by:

scerazy

[continuum]

>>> Stop using BartPE

>>> As I said in VistaPE I did not have to do anything

Maybe VistaPE is an easy choice for Converter.

But as Converter is only a nice but not-required addon to my built I will stick to 2k3.

Recently I used Vista as the host for Workstation and was tired off it after 2 hours. Workstation runs much faster on 2k3.

[scerazy]

I think you do not understand. VistaPE is not the same as Windows Vista

I hate Windows Vista & will try never to move to it

But the PE version of it is just brilliant, fast, stable, easy to use

Of course choice is yours

[continuum]

I have to admit I haven't tried VistaPE until you mentioned it. So I just made my first one two days ago.

Looks like I really should look into it.

What about drivers ? With a P2V-CD wide driver-support for Server-type systems is very important ...

[scerazy]

LOTS of drivers are included in the product as it is

If there is something missing, my instructions above tell how to add drivers for anything else that one might need, during the build of VistaPE with Winbuilder

There are tons of "plugins" available also

I think it is the way to go, from the forum I see that all that were using Bart previously abandoned it in favour of VistaPE

[continuum]

I now launch Converter with this batch

@echo off

vmware-ufad.exe -r vmware-ufad-p2v -x 1 ufa.xml

net start vstor2-p2v30

net start vmware-ufad-p2v-1

start converter -boot

[continuum]

!http://sanbarrow.com/moa21/moa21021-converter-small.jpg!

http://sanbarrow.com/moa21/moa21021-converter.jpg


will be included in next version

[continuum]

Yes - it works with the Starter Edition too - so you will NOT need the enterprise licence.

[continuum]

MOA 2.1.022 now available (2k3-sp1 based)

It comes with

Workstation 6

VMserver-console

Firefox with ESX remote-plugin

VMbrowser

VMware Converter (Cold Clone or Hot Clone)

[Nathan_Pease]

I have the starter edition of VM Ware converter up and running under VistaPE, but I can't seem to cold clone the local machine. All of the selections are greyed out except for cloning a remote machine and it wants me to put in an IP address of the remote machine. Does anyone know what I am doing wrong?? Thanks!!

[continuum]

Yes - you simply clicked converter.exe I guess. This way it will start in hotclone-mode.

To get coldclone mode you must start converter manually.

Open a cmd and run (from converter-dir)

vmware-ufad ufa.xml

Then in another cmd run

converter -boot