P2V Recomendations, Likes and Dis-Likes..

[bklynjae]

Hi Guys,

I would like to start a discussion about the tools you use for P2V'ing your physical boxes. Currently I have used the last few versions of converter, and platespin. Platespin was kind of difficult to setup but once it got going it was a little quicker than converter. Converter was easy to setup but took a little longer to complete. What other tools have you used and what do you like in particular. Lets hear them..!!!

[sparrowangelste]

so far vmware converter is #1 around here.

its free and does what it needs to do.

with ssl off, converter isnt too bad time wise.

though i have gotten estimates of days when it was on...

[continuum]

Imaging Tools:

Converter 3.0.3 installed in a 2003 VM
http://www.brothersoft.com/vmware-converter-158647.html

Converter 5 installed in a Win7 VM

MOA Coldclone CD with Converter 3.0.3
http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-14671

VMware Coldclone CD version 4

Linux LiveCD
any recent CD will do

BartPE with ghost32

Acronis LiveCD

robocopy.exe

Patching Tools:

DriverinjectionGUI
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=22523

Windows 7 64 bit Recovery CD

V2V tools:
disk2vhd.exe

StarwindV2Vconverter

various command line tools from quemu

I usually try Converter 5 first - if the source is win7 or 2008 and when a hotclone is required.
I try Converter 3.0.3 first if the source is NT,2k, 2k3 or XP and when a hotclone is required.

For Coldclones I usually try MOA first - then if that fails I use dd from Linux