Vmware Installation & Configuration

Converter Enterprise for VC Training – Technical Support

Paul Bosky

Product Support Engineering

December 2007

VMware Confidential

Objectives

At the end of course you should be able to:

Install Converter Enterprise and configure it to work with a new or existing VirtualCenter Server

Explain the integration between Converter Enterprise and VC and how it differs from the standalone VMware Converter

Convert any of the supported source machines types into Vmware Virtual Machines

Specify appropriate destination parameters for a Virtual Machine

Explain the different guest customization options available in Converter Enterprise and explain when and why these options would be used

Perform basic troubleshooting of Converter Enterprise

Agenda

Introduction & Background

Installation

Installation Troubleshooting

Using Converter Enterprise

Converter Enterprise Demo

Troubleshooting Converter Enterprise Tasks

Additional Resources

Module 0 – Introduction & Background

Agenda


Introduction to Converter Enterprise

System Architecture

Integration of Converter Enterprise with VirtualCenter

Installation






0. Introduction to Converter Enterprise

What is Converter Enterprise?

Converter Enterprise is an enterprise-level p2v server running in a client/server model

Functions as an extension of a VC Server (version 2.5 and above)

Provides for:

Importing from multiple sources (physical machine [hot and cold cloning], ESX VM, other platform VM/image) into a hosts, clusters, or resource pools managed by the VC Server

Export a Virtual Machine from a hosts, clusters, or resource pools managed by the VC Server to a managed (i.e. ESX Server or VC) or hosted (Workstation, Server, Fusion, etc.) environment

Reconfigure a Virtual Machine (generate a new security ID, Windows licensing, etc.) in a host, cluster or resource pool managed by VC

Performs p2v conversion as tasks (immediate and scheduled) just like other VC tasks


Converter Enterprise Capabilities

Convert physical machines (Windows) to virtual machines and import those virtual machines into VirtualCenter

Convert and import virtual machines – such as VMware Workstation, VMware GSX/Server, Microsoft Virtual Server 2005, etc – into VirtualCenter

Convert third-party backup or disk images to VirtualCenter virtual machines

Restore VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB) images to VirtualCenter virtual machines

Export VirtualCenter virtual machines to other VMware virtual machine formats

Reconfigure VirtualCenter virtual machines so they are bootable

Customize VirtualCenter machines (i.e. change the hostname or network settings)

0. System Architecture

Converter Enterprise Components

Converter Enterprise Server

Enables the import and export of virtual machines through Virtual Infrastructure Client or the Converter Enterprise CLI (Command Line Interface)

Install the Converter Enterprise Server component on the VirtualCenter Server machine or on an independent machine with access to the VirtualCenter Server

Converter Enterprise Client

A plug-in to the Virtual Infrastructure Client that provides access to Converter Enterprise’s import, export, and reconfigure wizards from within the VI Client

Install the Converter Enterprise Client plug-in from the VI Client “Plugins” menu


Converter Enterprise Components (continued)

Converter Enterprise CLI

Provides a command line interface to operate a Converter Enterprise Server

Install the Converter Enterprise CLI on a VirtualCenter Server, the Converter Enterprise Server or on an independent machine with access to the Converter Enterprise Server

Converter Enterprise Agent

Prepares a physical machine (Windows) for import from a remote machine running Converter Enterprise Server

Converter Enterprise Server installs Converter Enterprise Agent on physical machines as needed, in order to import them as virtual machines

Users have the option to automatically remove Converter Enterprise Agent from the source physical machine after the import is complete


Converter Enterprise Architecture

One-to-one mapping between Converter Enterprise Servers and VC Servers

Registers with the VC Server as part of the installation (requires admin privileges)

VirtualCenter maintains a trusted relationship with Converter Enterprise based on the public keys exchanged as part of extension initialization

0. Integration with VirtualCenter


Job Manager:

A component of the Converter Enterprise Server

Is fully integrated with other VC tasks

Performs the following functions:

Creates and schedules VC tasks for p2v jobs

maintains a list of p2v tasks

manages the execution of p2v jobs

Reflects task progress

Listens to task events and responds accordingly (i.e. kill a job on ‘Cancel’)

Questions?

Module 1 – Installation

Agenda


Installation

Installing Converter Enterprise Server

Installing the Converter Enterprise Plugin for the VI Client

Methods of Importing Virtual Machines

Methods of Exporting Virtual Machines






1. Installing Converter Enterprise Server

First, install the Converter Enterprise Server…

Installation can either take place as part of the VC 2.5 installation or as a separate install process

You need admin credentials on the VC Server

1. System Requirements – Server

Supported Operating Systems for Converter Enterprise Server

Windows 2000 Professional/Server

Windows 2003 Server (32-bit and 64-bit)

Windows XP Professional (32-bit and 64-bit)

Space Requirements

Installer size – 43MB

Converter Enterprise Server installed files – 74MB

Converter Enterprise CLI installed files – 36MB

Converter Enterprise Agent installed files – 37MB

Additional Requirements

Access to a VirtualCenter 2.5 (or later) Server via TCP/IP


The results of this installation are:

VMware Converter Enterprise for VirtualCenter program under “Add or Remove Programs”

VMware Converter Enterprise Service under “Services”

1. Installing Converter Enterprise Client

Next, install the Converter Enterprise Client (a plug-in for the VI Client)…

For each Virtual Infrastructure Client that you wish to use to convert VMs to ESX hosts in your VirtualCenter, you need to install the Converter Enterprise Client as a plug-in to the VI Client

You must have an appropriate version (2.5 +) of the VI Client to install

Use the same build number for your VI Client as the build number of your VC Server

You can download the matching VI client from your VC Server

Just point a web browser to the hostname or IP address of your VC Server…

1. System Requirements – Client

Supported Operating Systems for Converter Enterprise Client

Windows 2000

Windows 2003 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Windows Vista (32-bit and 64-bit)

Space Requirements

Installer size – 21MB

Converter Enterprise Client installed files – 48MB


At this point you must quit and re-launch the VI Client to view the plugin you just installed

After re-launching the VI Client, go back to “Manage Plugins” and you will see the Converter Enterprise Client listed in the “Installed” tab

Check the “Enabled” checkbox to enable the plugin for the VI Client

1. Methods of Importing Virtual Machines

After installing the Converter Enterprise Client, you will have additional menu options available in the VI Client:

Import options

Select "Import Machine" from the right-click menu for a host, cluster, or resource pool in the Hosts and Clusters view

Select a host, cluster or resource pool from the Inventory. Then select "Import Machine" from the submenu for Hosts, Clusters, or Resource Pools under the "Inventory" menu

Select "Import Machine" from the right-click menu for a Folder in the Virtual Machines and Templates view

Select "Import a Machine" from the drop-down menu in the Select a Task to Schedule dialog box (select the Scheduled Tasks view and click the “New” button or choose File > New > Scheduled Task)

1. Methods of Importing Virtual Machines

1. Methods of Exporting Virtual Machines

After installing the Converter Enterprise Client, you will have additional menu options available in the VI Client (continued):

Export options

Select "Export" from the submenu for Virtual Machine under the "Inventory" menu

Select "Export" from the right-click menu for a virtual machine in any view

Select "Export a Virtual Machine” from the drop-down menu in the Select a Task to Schedule dialog box (select the Scheduled Tasks view and click the “New” button or choose File > New Scheduled Task)

1. Methods of Exporting Virtual Machines

1. Methods of Reconfiguring Virtual Machines

After installing the Converter Enterprise Client, you will have additional menu options available in the VI Client (continued):

Reconfiguration options

Select “Reconfigure" from the submenu for Virtual Machine under the "Inventory" menu

Select “Reconfigure" from the right-click menu for a virtual machine in any view

1. Methods of Reconfiguring Virtual Machines

Questions?

Module 2 – Installation Troubleshooting

Agenda


Installation


Troubleshooting Issues with Converter Enterprise Installation

Troubleshooting the Integration of Converter Enterprise and VirtualCenter





2. Installation Troubleshooting

Possible issues related to Converter Enterprise installation:

Incorrect VirtualCenter version

Converter Enterprise can only be used with VirtualCenter version 2.5 and greater

Incorrect VirtualCenter ports entered during the installation of Converter Enterprise

default HTTP port: 80

default HTTPS port: 443

If you customized the VirtualCenter HTTP or HTTPS ports during installation, you can find the ports currently used by VirtualCenter in the following location…

2. Installation Troubleshooting

2. Integration Troubleshooting

Possible issues related to integration between VC and Converter Enterprise:

VC Server unable to access Converter Enterprise Server or a particular port on Converter Enterprise Server (or vice versa)

Things to check:

Using hostname/FQDN?

Name resolution (try pinging IP vs. hostname vs. FQDN)

Port not reached?

Windows Firewall enabled?

Firewall on the network blocking traffic?

“netstat -a” on each host to see if port is open

Run a packet sniffer (e.g. Wireshark) on each to see if traffic is reaching the destination


TCP/IP Ports Required by VMware Converter Enterprise

Converter Enterprise Server to remote physical machine: 445 and 139

Converter Enterprise Server to VirtualCenter Server: 443

Converter Enterprise Client to Converter Enterprise Server: 443

Physical machine to VirtualCenter Server: 443

Converter Enterprise Client to ESX Server: 902

Used when you import an image that is on the client to a VM on an ESX Server 3.x

Physical machine to ESX Server: 902

Note: the data copy part of the import is done directly between the source and the target. VC only acts as a queue manager and monitor


Possible issues related to integration between VC and Converter Enterprise (continued):

Moving Converter Server to another machine

Resolution is straightforward: reinstall Converter Server on the new server

The installer registers the new Converter Server with the VC Server

The “old” Converter Server is no longer used

Moving the VC Server to another machine

Dissociates the VC Server with the Converter Server

Resolution is to reinstall Converter Server and choose “Repair” after the new VC server is up and running

Close and re-launch any instances of the VI Client

If this does not resolve any remaining problems in the VI Client, as a last resort you can uninstall and then reinstall the Converter Enterprise Client from any instances of the VI Client that are still having issues…

Questions?

Module 3 – Using Converter Enterprise

Agenda

Introduction & Background Installation Installation Troubleshooting Using Converter Enterprise

Source Options (Source Machine Types, Source Volume Options, etc.)

Destination Options (Datastore Options, Network Types, etc.) Destination VM Customization Options Scheduling Options Overview of the CLI

Converter Enterprise Demo Troubleshooting Converter Enterprise Tasks Additional Resources

3. Source Options

The operating system on which you install Converter Enterprise Server determines what virtual machines and third-party images you can import, export, and reconfigure. The table below displays operating system compatibility information:

Operating System on Which Converter

Enterprise Server is Installed

Compatible Source Virtual Machine or Third-Party Image Operating System

Windows NTWindows

2000Windows XP

Windows 2003

Windows Vista*

Windows 2000 X X

Windows XP X X X X X

Windows 2003 X X X X X

*Importing from Windows Vista is Experimental for RC, Supported for GA

3. Source Options

Memory Requirements for Cold Cloning with the Boot CD

If the Source Physical Machine’s Memory (m) Is Then the Boot CD

Less than 264MB Cannot perform a cold clone

Greater than or equal to 264MB but less than 296MB

Can perform a cold clone, but cannot use a RAM disk

Greater than or equal to 296MB but less than 364MB

Can perform a cold clone with a RAM disk, although using a network share is suggested. The

RAM disk size is m minus 264MB.

Greater than or equal to 364MBCan perform a cold clone with a RAM disk. The RAM disk size is m minus 264MB, up to a limit of

124MB.

3. Source Options

Physical machines that can be imported

Windows NT 4 Workstation/Server SP4+

Windows 2000 Professional/Server/Advanced

Windows XP Home (cold cloning only)


Windows 2003 Standard/Web/Enterprise (32-bit and 64-bit)

Windows Vista (32-bit and 64-bit) – Experimental for RC, Supported for GA

3. Source OptionsVirtual machines created from the following sources:

VMware ESX 3.x standalone

VMware ESX 2.5/3.x (including 3i) managed by VirtualCenter 2.x

VMware Workstation 4.5.x/5.x/6.x

VMware Player 1.x/2.x

VMware Server 1.x

VMware ACE 1.x/2.x

VMware Fusion 1.x

VMware GSX 3.x standalone

Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 and later

Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 and later (.vmc)

1)You can import hosted virtual machines (Workstation, Player, Server, ACE, Fusion, and GSX) and system images only if they reside on an accessible network mounted share.

2) Virtual PC and Virtual Server virtual machines with non-Windows guest operating systems (for example, Linux and DOS) are not compatible with VMware Converter Enterprise for VirtualCenter. This is true even when VirtualCenter 2.5 otherwise supports that guest operating system.

3. Source Options

System images created from the following sources:

Symantec/Norton

Ghost 9.0/10.0/12.0

LiveState 3.0/6.0

Backup Exec System Recovery 6.5/7.0 (.sv2i)

StorageCraft ShadowProtect (.spf)

Acronis True Image (.tib)

VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB) full backup images

3. Source Options

Guest Operating Systems With Experimental Support

Converter Enterprise can clone source images with the following OSs, but the destination VM may need additional configuration or may not work properly

Linux

Windows Vista

Windows NT 3.x

Windows ME

Windows 98

Windows 95

MS-DOS

3. Source Options

Certain limitations apply to particular sources

See the Administration Guide for information about these limitations

http://vmweb.vmware.com/supportweb/Training/PSE_Training_Material/Enterprise/VC/Converter_Enterprise/Ref_Matl/admin_guide_rc.pdf

3. Source Options

Source disk options

Import all disks and maintain sizes

Select to import or ignore certain volumes

Resize any of the volumes (larger or smaller)

3. Destination Options

Converter Enterprise can export virtual machines managed by VirtualCenter 2.5 to the following destinations:

ESX 3.x standalone

ESX 2.5/3.x (including 3i) managed by VirtualCenter 2.x

Workstation 4.5.x/5.x/6.x

Player 1.x/2.x

Server 1.x

ACE 1.x/2.x

Fusion 1.x

GSX 3.x standalone

3. Destination Options

VM name and folder

Datacenter location

Host

Cluster

Resource pool (within a host or cluster)

Datastore options

The virtual machine files (.vmdk, .vmx, etc.) can be located on the same datastore or each file can be located on different datastores within your VirtualCenter

Network options

You can determine how many virtual network interfaces your VM has and which port group(s) should be used

Option to automatically install VMware Tools in the guest OS

3. Customization/Reconfiguration Options

As part of the import process, you can customize Windows VMs in VirtualCenter 2.5

Or you can choose to reconfigure these VMs later

3. Customization/Reconfiguration Options

Requires that the Microsoft “sysprep” files are available on the VirtualCenter Server

<ALLUSERSPROFILE>\Application Data\VMware\VMware VirtualCenter\sysprep\

By default: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\VMware VirtualCenter\sysprep\

Specific to the source OS (2k, svr2003, xp, etc.)

Available Options for customization:

Computer Info

Generate new security ID

Licensing options

Time zone settings

Network customization (DHCP/static IP, DNS settings, WINS settings)

Workgroup/Domain settings

3. Scheduling Options

Start conversion immediately

Schedule conversion

Task Name

Task Description

Execution Time

Execution Date

3. Overview of the CLI

The CLI is a Command Line Interface to import, export and reconfigure Virtual Machines using Converter Enterprise

Does not require installation of the VI Client Plug-in

Automatically installed with Converter Enterprise Server, but can also be installed separately (as a ‘custom’ install from the Converter Enterprise Server installer)

Separate Linux tarball installation also available

Submits jobs to the Converter Enterprise Server in an XML file based on p2v.xsd XML schema


Supported Windows operating systems

Windows 2000

Windows 2003 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Windows Vista (32-bit and 64-bit)

Windows CLI installed files space requirements

36MB


Supported Linux operating systems

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.0

Linux CLI installed files space requirements

195MB


By default, the CLI “converter-tool.exe” is installed in the following location on the Converter Enterprise Server:

C:\Program Files\VMware\Infrastructure\Converter Enterprise

Sample XML files, based on p2v.xsd, are installed in:

C:\Program Files\VMware\Infrastructure\Converter Enterprise\Documentation

The Linux installer can be downloaded separately:

http://www.vmware.com/esxvcbeta

Note: this URL will change after GA

Extract the contents of VMware-converter-4.0.0-<xxxxx>.tar.gz to any location (<xxxxx> is the build number)

http://www.vmware.com/esxvcbeta


Except for the command itself (Windows – binary .exe, Linux – shell script .sh), Windows and Linux versions use the same syntax:

To run the CLI on Windows, open a command prompt and type:

converter-tool

followed by your desired options

To run the CLI on Linux, open a terminal window and type:

converter-tool.sh

followed by your desired options


Standard form:

converter-tool --vcHost [vcServer] --vcCreds [username:password] --jobSubmit [jobDescription.xml]

Short form for the same command:

converter-tool --vH [vcServer] --vC [username:password] --jS [jobDescription.xml]


Converter Enterprise CLI resources:

Help option on the command line:

--help

The CLI Appendix of the Administration Guide

Documentation, sample XML files, and several .xsd schema files:

C:\Program Files\VMware\Infrastructure\Converter Enterprise\Documentation\

Look in the “jobs” directory on your Converter Enterprise Server to see the XML files that have been generated automatically when using the GUI:

<ALLUSERSPROFILE>\Application Data\VMware\VMware Converter Enterprise\jobs

You can use the auto-generated files as samples for creating your own XML files

An example XML file

http://vmweb.vmware.com/supportweb/Training/PSE_Training_Material/Enterprise/VC/Converter_Enterprise/Ref_Matl/admin_guide_rc.pdf

http://vmweb.vmware.com/supportweb/Training/PSE_Training_Material/Enterprise/VC/Converter_Enterprise/Ref_Matl/00000001.xml

Questions?

Module 4 – Converter Enterprise Demo

Agenda


Installation




Live Instructor Demo of Converter Enterprise Tasks with Various Configuration Options



4. Converter Enterprise Demo

The instructor will now demonstrate several Converter Enterprise tasks including:

Importing from a VM

Importing from a “physical machine”

Potential “gotchas” in the import wizard

Guest customization

Tour of relevant directories on:

VC Server

Converter Enterprise Server

Converter Enterprise Client (VI Client)

Questions?

Module 5 – Troubleshooting Converter Enterprise Tasks

Agenda


Installation





Potential Sources of Converter Enterprise Task Errors

Location of Log Files

Interpretation of Log Files and Error Messages


5. Potential Task Errors

Previous Converter Agent on source machine

If the source machine has an older VMware Converter Agent installed (from a previous p2v conversion attempt) you may need to uninstall the outdated Agent


Network Connectivity Issues – source machine

If you experience network connectivity problems between the Converter Server machine and the source machine after you have initiated a Converter job you will see entries like these in the VI Client under Tasks & Events


Network Connectivity Issues – ESX host

ESX host down

If you experience network connectivity problems with the target ESX host (or if the ESX host goes down) after you have initiated a Converter job you will see entries like the following in the VI Client under Tasks & Events


Task Details


You may also see errors on the source machine indicating that there has been a problem with your p2v job…

5. Log Locations

Converter Server

<ALLUSERSPROFILE>\Application Data\VMware\VMware Converter Enterprise\Logs\

vmware-converter-server-<x>.log

Converter Client

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\VMware\VMware Converter Enterprise\Logs\

vmware-converter-client-<x>.log

Notes:

1. Assuming default install directories for Converter Server and Converter Client

2. Logs are stored on a temporary basis, and should be retrieved as soon as possible

5. Log File Interpretation

Network Connectivity Issues – source machine

A few lines from the vmware-converter-server-x.log

[2007-11-02 14:34:47.369 'VmdbSvc' 3060 warning] IVmdbPipe2Impl: Write failed: The specified network name is no longer available.

[2007-11-02 14:34:47.447 'App' 2820 error] [imageProcessingTaskWrapper,771] Error while receiving an update from VmiImportTask::task{4}: vmodl.fault.HostNotReachable

[2007-11-02 14:34:47.447 'App' 2820 error] [imageProcessingTaskWrapper,883] Remote task VmiImportTask::task{4} failed to complete: vmodl.fault.HostNotReachable

[2007-11-02 14:34:47.666 'P2V' 3072 error] [task,295] Task failed: P2VError UFA_LOST_CONNECTION()

[2007-11-02 14:34:47.682 'App' 3072 warning] Got vmdb error -14 (Pipe connection has been broken) when invoking [logout] on [sysimage.SessionManager:UfaSessionManager]


Network Connectivity Issues/Host Down – ESX host


[2007-11-05 11:01:48.732 'P2V' 3072 info] [task,274] Starting execution of a Task

[2007-11-05 11:01:48.872 'P2V' 3072 info] [clientConnection,105] Connecting to IPC$ on 192.168.149.133 as 192.168.149.133\administrator

[2007-11-05 11:01:49.778 'P2V' 3072 info] [clientConnection,108] Successfully connected to IPC$ on 192.168.149.133

[2007-11-05 11:01:51.169 'ClientConnection' 3072 info] Connecting to \\192.168.149.133\pipe\vmware-converter-vmdb, use SSL: true

[2007-11-05 11:01:51.247 'ClientConnection' 3072 info] Successfully connected to \\192.168.149.133\pipe\vmware-converter-vmdb

[2007-11-05 11:01:51.950 'BaseLibs' 3060 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting unknown path: /vmomi/


Network Connectivity Issues/Host Down – ESX host (continued)


[2007-11-05 11:01:52.685 'ClientConnection' 3072 info] Making sure that UFAD interface has version vmware-converter-4.0.0

[2007-11-05 11:01:53.028 'ClientConnection' 3072 info] UFAD interface version is vmware-converter-4.0.0

[2007-11-05 11:01:53.091 'P2V' 3072 info] [task,276] Task execution completed

[2007-11-05 11:01:53.653 'P2V' 3072 info] [ufaSession,127] DoImport called

[2007-11-05 11:01:54.107 'P2V' 3072 info] [task,274] Starting execution of a Task

[2007-11-05 11:01:54.200 'P2V' 3072 info] [ufaTask,207] Successfully connected to VMImporter

[2007-11-05 11:04:44.591 'P2V' 3072 error] [task,295] Task failed: P2VError UNKNOWN_METHOD_FAULT(sysimage.fault.PlatformError)

Questions?

Module 6 – Additional Resources

Agenda


Installation






Converter Enterprise Documentation

6. Additional Resources

Converter Enterprise Documentation (stored on vmware.com – links will expire after Beta)

Administration Guide

Release Notes

http://www.vmware.com/beta/vi31/rc/vi3_vec_10_admin_guide_rc.pdf

http://www.vmware.com/beta/vi31/rc/vi3_vec_10_rel_notes_rc.html

Questions?

Thank You For Attending

Paul Bosky

Product Support Engineering

December 2007

VMware Confidential

Vmware Installation & Configuration

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