How to virtualise a physical server

[rurffy]

Hi All,

im just kinda wondering the steps involved in virtualising a physical server.(I have an esxi in place). So basically i have a physicall server on the network and i would like to perfrom some test on it (but want to be safe hence im planing to virtualise the physical and perfrom the test on the virtual).

my question is

1. How do i start the virtualization .. Do i use Vconverter then link it to Esxi?

2. After virtualization, since the the physical and virtual server will have same hostname - there will be conflicts right?

3. Should i remove the physical from network? - if yes .. will DNS pick see the virtual as the physical?

many thanks guys

[aravinds3107]

Welcome to the Communities..

1)You can use VMware Converter to perform the P2V conversion and during conversion you will get the destination detail where you can select the ESXi host

2) If both physical and virtual will be online then there will be conflicts, If you do not want network connection to the virtual machine to perform your testing, then you just uncheck the connected and connect at powere ON option and use the vSphere Client console to access the VM.

3) If you are removing the physical server from the network, your VM will work as normal server and no changes required in DNS

[rurffy]

Hi thanks for the reply . Please i have few nmore developed questions

1. In terms on networking settings on the virtual machine . when do i need to do to asertain the virtualised PC remain on the same VLAN or lets say on the same network as the old. Do i need to do anything special?

2.After creating the virtual machine from the physical, do i need to rejoin it to the domain? or will the virtual be added to the domain automatically?

many thanks

[aravinds3107]

1) The ESXi host has to be connected to corresponding vLAN to the physical switch and you need to create a portgroup (vLAN) on the ESXi using the vSphere Client

2) There is no need to re-join the server to domain ( I have not face any issue so far)

[rurffy]

Thanks .

Do you have any guide or article on creating a groupport (VLAN)?

Thanks again.... :smileyhappy:

[aravinds3107]

you can find all the documents related to vSphere here

http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-pubs.html

Check Add a Virtual Machine Port Group

Check if videos here help http://vmwarelearning.com/