Necessary files to import a VM from other server

[gkpyeung]

Hi,

We have installed the VMWARE EXSi 5.0.0-768111 (file system is VMFS 5.54), we want to import a VMDK file (version 4) to our environment. I used to copy a whole folder which contains the below files (as attached)

However, he said he will only copy the VMDK file to me. Is that sufficient to complete the import ?

Not sure the file version 4 can be import to our V5.54 ??

Thanks in advance ...

[admin]

Hi,

yes the vmdk and the flat.vmdk should be enough to re-create an Entire VM. The Most Import file is the flat.vmdk, which will not be visible on GUI but if you SSH into the Host and Cd to the data store you should be able to see the

flat.vmdk. Even if you lose all the files and have Just the flat.vmdk you can re-create the entire VM with data.

Ideally when you copy or move the .vmdk (descripter ) it also moves or copies the flat.vmdk on the back end.

And yes you can import the version 4 to your 5.5 without problems.

Thanks,
Avinash

[gkpyeung]

Hi,

Unfortunately, their VM is VM-V7 and our is VM-V8 so it said (hard disk error) and cannot import ?! Please see attached and advise ... .

Thanks ...

[admin]

Hi,

Then you may need to create a VM with hardware version 7 and attach the disk and then upgrade to 8 or copy the original vm files.with vmx and it should help.

Thanks,
Avinash

[gkpyeung]

Hi,

I tried to creaet a new VM with Version 7 but same error. ...

[a_p_]

It's not the virtual hardware version, but the virtual disk type which is incorrect. Please see whether http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1028943 can help solving the issue.

André

[gkpyeung]

Thanks a.p. your on is the answer

Many Thanks for your help ~~

[a_p_]

The screenshot shows a "...-s001.vmdk" file which looks like you uploaded a VM from a desktop system (e.g. VMware Workstation). ESXi doesn't support the sparse .vmdk file format. In order to use this virtual disk you need to convert it to a supported file format or use VMware Converter to convert the VM rather than to just uploading the files.

André

[a_p_]

However, he said ...

Who said that?

As mentioned by Avinash21, you can basically recreate a VM from the .vmdk flat file. However, you'll need to create a new VM and attach the virtual disk, which will result in a new UUID and MAC address for the VM. So I'd actually copy all the files (except for the .log file) and add the VM to the new host's inventory. Once you power on the VM for the first time on the new host, make sure you select "I moved it" (rather than "I copied it") to preserve the VM's UUID and MAC address.

André

[Paltelkalpesh]

As per the best practice, try to copy whole VM files except to only logs files, Many third party backup tools are available which would be helpful to safely move VM from one location to another location.