p2v migration good. Issues installation VMware tools

Yesterday I migrated for my first time a hardware server to a virtual server in VMWare Esxi 4.0 update 1. I used theP2V tool to complete this migration. P2V migration went very good no issues.

Well the server I was migrating from hardware to virtual was an HP Proliant ML370 G3  server. After the P2V migrationi started the VMware server and i wanted to install the VMware tools. During this installation it took so many time to complete that I had to kill some installation processes.

Well no I have found for my self an easy list as check-list to use for a p2v migration

  • start a cold clone with the p2v-cd on the server you want to migrate.
  • check the IP address if you got a dynamic ip or you need a static IP address.
  • start a new task ( no automatic installation of VMware tools )
  • wait till the migration is finished.
  • shut down the old server
  • check on the Esx server the virtual server you just cloned.
  • logon to the server ( ctrl+alt+ins)
  • right-click on “computer”
  • select services
  • disable all services of the manufacture ( HP / DELL / IBM )
  • install the VMware tools

Now you have to follow the next steps to complete the reconfiguration of the server

First – Remove Old Physical Hardware from the New Windows VM (picture shows “grayed” disk drives)

Log into the VM
Open a command prompt

  • Start > Run
  • CMD
  • Enter
  • At the prompt type:
    • set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
    • Enter
  • Type: start devmgmt.msc
    • Enter
  • Wait for the Device Manager to open, then click on View > Show Hidden Devices
    • Expand each category and search for “grayed” hardware
    • Right click and click uninstall when “grayed” hardware is located
    • Don’t worry about the System Devices category
    • When all the hardware devices are gone, close the Device Manager and reboot

Second – Uninstall Old Hardware Specific Software

  • Log into the VM
  • Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs
  • Carefully find and uninstall programs from IBM/Dell/HP/other that are used for drive arrays, networking, ILO or any other similar application that is specific to the physical hardware. Note: These items are not required now that the server hardware has been virtualized.
  • Done – When all the applications have been uninstalled, close the Control Panel and reboot

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