How to convert Ubuntu server to VMware Player image?

[philled99]

I'm trying to convert a physical Ubuntu 12.04 64 bit server to an image I can play in VMware Player. I'm using VMware vCenter Converter Standalone v5. I can connect to the remote Ubuntu server and pull back all the details when selecting the source machine.

But when I then move on to the Destination System screen it asks me for a server name for VMware Infrastructure Server details. I don't have any VMware servers installed, all I have is VMware Player on my PC. So how do I create an image that can be played on my PC in VMware Player?

[sparrowangelste]

convert to vmware workstation  rather than vmware infrastructure

[philled99]

Hi sparrowangels, I wanted to convert to VMware Workstation rather than VMware Infrastructure, but when it moves on from the Source System screen it takes me to this screen which has no option to choose VMware Workstation:

What do I need to do to get Workstation as an option for destination?

[a_p_]

As mentioned by ivivanov, Linux systems cannot be converted to VMware Workstation or Player using the Converter, but only to vSphere/ESXi. That's why there is no option to select the target.

André

[sparrowangelste]

ivivanov is correct.

so either you would need to setup a esxi server

or use clonezilla to backup the ubuntu box and then restore that image to vmware player.

I havent done that but that seems to be the most logical method.

unless you needed to setup esxi anyway :smileywink:

[continuum]

>  or use clonezilla to backup the ubuntu box and then restore that image to vmware player.

That will only do the easy part - the imaging.
It may work in some cases but more often it will result in a VM that will not boot.
The problems can be fixed with a Ubuntu LiveCD though

[Ivan Ivanov]

You cannot convert physical Linux machines to Workstation/Player images. You need to select an ESX or vCenter server for destination.

[dbwhitaker]

VMware should update documentation to reflect this. The 5.0 converter documentation (https://www.vmware.com/pdf/convsa_50_guide.pdf) explicitly states "VMware Workstation 5.x, 6.x, 7.x, and 8.x" are supported destinations. See page 24, Table 2-5 "Supported Destinations". I consulted this document prior to taking the time to download converter and configuring my Ubuntu machine as a suitable source -- it's frustrating to only learn now that I wasted my time.

The diagram on the main product page is out of date, too. It clearly shows Workstation as a destination. http://www.vmware.com/products/converter/overview.html.

[continuum]

it is a bit strange ....
you can really use Converter to p2v Linux - and you can really create a Workstation compatible VM - but the obscure detail is that you must run Converter against a ESXi machine as the target of the import..

VMware had not automated the usage of the Linuxhelper-live CD they use to patch the system for Workstation hosts.
They only automated it for ESXi.

[Ivan Ivanov]

Yes, this is true. The reason for this is the only thing required to specify a Workstation destination is a target directory - either local or on a network share. This can be done even if there is no Workstation installed. As a result there is no "common" way to communicate with Workstation and to attach a live ISO image as a CD-ROM device and configure the target to boot from it.

[continuum]

The Linux helper iso could also be used manually - all we would need to do so is a bit of documentation

[Ivan Ivanov]

It is stated in the documentation on page 22 in section "Conversion Limitations for Powered-On Machines", table 2-4:

For live Linux sources it says:

* Only volume-based cloning at the file level is supported.

* Only managed destinations are supported.

* Converting multiboot virtual machines is supported only if GRUB is installed as the boot loader. LILO is not supported.