VMware

How to virtualize a physical machine with VMware Converter

To have done the conversion we need 3 stations:

• Source: The station to be converted
• Destination: The station that runs vmware server
• Converter: The station that runs vmware converter

Local Machine Note that you can convert the Converter station itself, then Converter and Destination must be the local IP

Source Station

If the machine to be converted is remotely locate, the write down the IP address, user with administrator privileges and password.

Destination Station

1. Edit Samba configuration file /etc/samba/smb.conf
   1. Set the workgroup to "Workgroup" to match the windows workgroup
   2. Add vmware virtual machines folder as a share with the name vms, and get access to this folder to everyone It should be accessible as \\dest_server\vms

workgroup = WORKGROUP

[vms]
comment = Virtual Machines
path = /opt/vms
public = yes
writable = yes
browseable = yes
guest ok = yes

1. Add samba password to root

# smbpasswd -a root

1. Start/Restart samba

# services smb restart

Converter Station: Remote Machine

1. Download and install the latest version from http://www.vmware.com/products/converter
2. In Source Type choose Physical computer and then click "Next" button
3. In Source Login choose A remote machine and put on Name or IP Address the IP of the source machine
4. In the same windows write the User name and Password
5. In Destination choose Vmware standalone virtual machine
6. Click Next button
   1. In Virtual machine name write the name for this machine, this name is the same that will be displayed on VMware Server
   2. Location put the UNC path to Destination \\dest_server\vms
7. Click Connect As... and set login as `Workgroup\root` and password the same that was set on Destination station
8. The type of virtual machine to create is Workstation 5.x, VMware Server, VMware Player that should be the second option
9. In VM Options choose Allocate all disk space now for better performance
10. Set the HD allocation space twice the size of the current used space on Source station.
11. Select Bridge to let the Virtual Machine has its own IP
12. Click Finish to start the process
13. When the process be done, the new machine will be displayed on VMware Server under File > Open > Browse
14. If the image doesn't appear there, then place the new image to /var/lib/vmware/Virtual Machines

Converter Station: Local Machine

1. In Source Type choose This Local Machine and then click Next button
2. In "Source Data" click on New Disk Space, select Type Size in GB, type 40 and then click Next button
3. In "Destination" choose "Vmware standalone virtual machine" and then click "Next" button
   1. In Virtual machine name write the name for this machine, this name is the same that will be displayed on VMware Server
   2. In Location put the UNC path to the destination \\mule\vms
   3. In Type of virtual machine to create select Workstation 5.x, VMware Server 1.x, Player 1.x
   4. When done, click on next, and a window will prompt for user and password, use root with the password you've set on "Destination Station" section
   5. On next window, in Disk Space Allocation select Allocate all disk space now for better performance and click Next Buttonon Networks window
4. In How many NICs do you want to have? select 1
5. Click on Network cell for the NIC1 and select Bridged
6. When done, click on next
7. On Customization windows just click on Next button again
8. At the end you will see the Ready to Complete window, check your values and click Finish button
9. When the process be done, the new machine will be displayed on VMware Server under File > Open > Browse
10. If the image doesn't appear there, then place the new image to /var/lib/vmware/Virtual Machines