VMware vCenter Converter

Overview:

VMware® vCenter Converter is a highly robust and scalable enterprise-class migration tool that automates the process of creating VMware virtual machines from physical machines, other virtual machine formats and third-party image formats. Through an intuitive wizarddriven interface and a centralized management console, VMware vCenter Converter can quickly and reliably convert multiple local and remote physical machines— without any disruptions or downtime.

Benefits

• Minimize downtime by converting physical machines running Windows and Linux operating systems to VMware virtual machines quickly, reliably and without any disruption.
• Simplify integration by converting third-party formats such as Parallels Desktop, Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery, Norton Ghost, Acronis, StorageCraft and Microsoft Virtual Server/ Virtual PC to VMware virtual machines.
• Save time and money with centralized management of remote conversions of multiple physical servers or virtual machines.
• Ease provisioning by populating new virtual machine environments quickly from a large directory of virtual machine appliances.
• Ensure conversion reliability by taking quiesced snapshots of the guest OS on the source machine before data migration.
• Eliminate source server downtime and reboot with nondisruptive conversions through hot cloning.

Convert Physical Machines to Virtual Machines in Minutes

VMware vCenter Converter can run on a wide variety of hardware and supports most commonly used versions of the Microsoft Windows and Linux* operating systems. With this robust, enterprise class migration tool you can:

• Quickly and reliably convert local and remote physical machines into virtual machines without any disruption or downtime.
• Complete multiple conversions simultaneously with a centralized management console and an intuitive conversion wizard.
• Convert other virtual machine formats such as Microsoft Virtual PC and Microsoft Virtual Server or backup images of physical machines such as Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery or Norton Ghost to VMware virtual machines.
• Restore VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB) images of virtual machines to running virtual machines.
• Clone and backup physical machines to virtual machines as part of your disaster recovery plan.

 

Using VMware vCenter Converter:

VMware vCenter Converter reduces the amount of time IT professionals spend on migrating to a virtual infrastructure by enabling fast, reliable and non-disruptive conversions from physical to virtual machines, and from older virtual machines to newer formats.

• Convert dozens or even hundreds of physical machines VMware virtual machines during a server consolidation project. VMware vCenter Converter automates this process and reduces the time and effort required to manage these multiple large-scale conversions.
• Convert between multiple types or generations of VMware virtual machines. For example, virtual machines created by VMware Server in a lab environment can be directly migrated to VMware virtual infrastructure systems in production environments.
• Create virtual machine clones of physical or virtual machines and archive them to a file server at an alternative site for disaster recovery. In the event of a disaster, the cloned virtual machines can be deployed on VMware Server or VMware virtual infrastructure to provide end users with access to their files or applications.

How Does VMware vCenter Converter Work?

VMware vCenter Converter is managed through a simple, task-based user interface that enables users to convert physical machines, thirdparty disk image formats or VMware Consolidated Backup images of virtual machines to VMware virtual machines in three easy steps:

• Step 1: Specify the source physical server, virtual machine or thirdparty format to convert.
• Step 2: Specify the destination format, virtual machine name, and location for the new virtual machine to be created.
• Step 3: Create/convert virtual machines to a new destination and configure them. VMware vCenter Converter achieves faster conversion speeds using sector-based copying (vs. file-level copying in other products). VMware vCenter Converter first takes a snapshot of the source machine before migrating the data, resulting in fewer failed conversions and no downtime on the source server.

VMware vCenter Converter communicates directly with the guest OS running on the source physical machine for hot cloning these machines, without any downtime and, as such, has no direct hardware-level dependencies.

With cold cloning, the VMware vCenter Converter Boot CD provides a Windows PE boot environment that provides support for the latest hardware and is thus able to recognize most physical server systems. For instances where the VMware vCenter Converter BootCD does not recognize the source physical hardware, VMware provides a utility that helps administrators download the necessary storage/ network adapter drivers from the vendors’ website and inject those drivers into the BootCD distribution. This capability can be used to create a new BootCD image that will help recognize the system hardware.

What Version of VMware vCenter Converter Should I Use?

Please see Product Comparision.

How Do I Get VMware vCenter Converter?

VMware vCenter Converter Standalone is available as a free software download at: http://www.vmware.com/products/converter/get.html VMware vCenter Converter (integrated version) is built-in as a module of vCenter.

VMware vCenter Converter Features:

VMware vCenter Converter lets users quickly, easily and affordably convert Microsoft Windows and Linux* based physical machines and third party image formats to VMware virtual machines. It also converts virtual machines between VMware platforms.

VMware vCenter Converter is available in two different versions - Standalone Converter and Converter integrated with VMware vCenter Server.

Performance and Reliability

• Multiple simultaneous conversions enable large-scale virtualization implementations
• Quiescing and snapshotting of the guest OS on the source machine before migrating the data ensures conversion reliability
• Hot cloning makes conversions non-disruptive—with no source server downtime or reboot
• Sector-based copying enhances cloning and conversion speed
• Support for cold cloning (conversion that requires server downtime and reboot) in addition to hot cloning

Management

• Centralized management console allows users to queue up and monitor multiple simultaneous remote as well as local conversions
• Easy to use wizards to minimize the number of steps to conversion
• Support for both local and remote cloning enables conversions in remote locations such as branch offices

Interoperability: Broad support for source physical machines and image formats

Broad support for source physical machines and image formats.

• Source physical machines running 64-bit Windows XP/2003, WinNT SP4+, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003, windows Server 2008, and Linux (RHEL, SUSE and Ubuntu)
• Source third party images: Microsoft Virtual Server, Microsoft Virtual PC, Parallels Desktop, Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery (formerly called Live State Recovery), Norton Ghost, Acronis, and StorageCraft
• Source/Destination virtual machines: VMware Workstation, VMware GSX Server, VMware Player, VMware Server, VMware Fusion, VMware ESX (Managed by VMware VirtualCenter 2.x)

*Linux P2V support is available for the Standalone version only.

FAQs:

What are the various forms of VMware vCenter Converter?

VMware vCenter Converter is available in two flavors - Converter Standalone and vCenter Converter plug-in respectively.

What source machines does VMware vCenter Converter support for conversions?

VMware vCenter Converter supports conversions from sources such as physical machines, VMware and Microsoft virtual machine formats and certain 3rd party disk image formats.

Does vCenter Converter support Linux P2V?

Linux P2V is supported in vCenter Converter Standalone only.

What virtual machine formats can VMware vCenter Converter import?

VMware vCenter Converter can import virtual machines created in:

• VMware Workstation
• VMware Player
• VMware Fusion
• VMware ESX/ESXi
• VMware Server
• VMware vCenter Server
• Microsoft Virtual PC
• Microsoft Virtual Server
• Microsoft Hyper-V. Microsoft Hyper-V VM imports are supported as a physical source.

Please refer to the release notes for vCenter Converter Standalone and vCenter Converter respectively for additional details.

What 3rd party images are supported with VMware vCenter Converter?

VMware vCenter Converter can currently import system images (Windows operating system only) from:

• Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery (formerly LiveState Recovery)
• Symantec Backup Exec
• Norton Ghost
• Acronis True Image
• StorageCraft
• Parallels Desktop

It can also import Microsoft Virtual PC and Virtual Server formats.

Please refer to the release notes for vCenter Converter Standalone and vCenter Converter respectively for additional details.

What VMware products will the virtual machines created by VMware vCenter Converter run on?

VMware vCenter Converter can output virtual machines that are compatible with:

• VMware Workstation
• VMware Player
• VMware ESX/ESXi
• VMware Server
• VMware Fusion

Please refer to the release notes for vCenter Converter Standalone and vCenter Converter respectively for additional details on supported VMware products.

How will VMware vCenter Converter be sold and delivered?

VMware vCenter Converter Standalone is a free product that anyone may download for getting started with virtualization. VMware vCenter Converter is a vCenter plug-in and is available as a part of VMware vCenter Server.

Can one upgrade from the P2V Assistant product to VMware vCenter Converter?

No. There is no upgrade path from VMware P2V Assistant to VMware vCenter Converter.

Does one need a Helper VM to perform P2V and V2V conversions as in the case of P2V Assistant?

There is no longer the need for a Helper VM to perform P2V or V2V conversions. Management of all conversions is facilitated through the centralized management interface of VMware vCenter Converter.

Is there a hardware compatibility list for VMware vCenter Converter, similar to the one for P2V Assistant?

There is no hardware compatibility list for VMware vCenter Converter. VMware vCenter Converter supports and recognizes most server hardware types. VMware vCenter Converter provides for two cloning mechanisms: Hot cloning (live migrations) and cold cloning (cloning using a BootCD).

With hot cloning, VMware vCenter Converter communicates directly with the guest operating system running on the source physical machine and as such has no direct hardware level dependencies.

With cold cloning, the VMware vCenter Converter BootCD provides a Windows PE boot environment that provides support for the latest hardware and is thus able to recognize most physical server systems. For instances where the VMware vCenter Converter BootCD does not recognize the source physical hardware, VMware provides a utility that helps administrators download the necessary storage and network adapter drivers from the vendor’s website and inject the downloaded drivers into the BootCD distribution. This can be used to create a new Converter BootCD image that will help recognize the system hardware.

How do customers really save money by using VMware vCenter Converter?

Customers are spending way too much time and effort today doing physical to virtual conversions. With other technologies or methods, customers may spend several hours even doing a single conversion. Majority of the cost of doing a conversion is the manual labor and time spent by the IT professional. VMware vCenter Converter rapidly and reliably converts physical machines to virtual machines with the goal of freeing up time for the IT professional.

Pricing, Licensing & Support

What will VMware vCenter Converter be priced at?

VMware vCenter Converter Standalone is available free of charge for any user. Technical Support is not included and will need to be purchased separately.

VMware vCenter Converter is available as a part of VMware vCenter Server at no additional cost. Support is available as a part of VMware vCenter support.

Does one need a license key to activate and use VMware vCenter Converter?

You do not require a license key to use the features of Converter Standalone. A license key is required to use the features of VMware vCenter Converter.

Can one still buy VMware P2V Assistant licenses?

VMware P2V Assistant product is now end of life. VMware P2V Assistant licenses are no longer available for purchase.

How can one obtain support for VMware vCenter Converter Standalone?

Customers may purchase pay-per-incident support for Converter Standalone that will follow a Silver support SLA. Alternate resources for support and information are available through discussion forums, documentation, knowledgebase (KB) articles, white papers and release notes.

Why are you giving VMware vCenter Converter Standalone out free?

VMware vCenter Converter Standalone completes our range of solutions that accelerate the benefits people see from virtualization. The free availability of VMware vCenter Converter Standalone makes the process of converting to virtualization virtually pain-free, low cost and fast. It provides for a great user experience at the best value.

*Linux P2V support is available for the Standalone version only.

Product Comparision:

VMware vCenter Converter is available in two versions, Standalone and Integrated (plug-in to vCenter). VMware vCenter Converter Standalone is a free download available to everyone. VMware vCenter Converter Integrated is available to existing and new VMware vCenter Server customers at no additional cost with valid support and subscription contracts.

*Linux P2V support is available for the Standalone version only.

Documentation:

VMware vCenter Converter Data Sheet (.PDF)