VMware converter Background process

1. Agent Installation Location
Locally: Install Converter and agent directly on source machine if converting directly into ESX Server
Remotely: Connect to source machine over network to install agent

2. Agent Installation
Use local administrator account
Avoid domain accounts that have restrictive policies
Allow reboot for Windows NT 4.0 and 2000 sources

3. Machine Preparation
Do not deactivate services or harden security
Workstation service
Server service
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper service
Volume Shadow Copy service (Windows 2003 or XP)
Ensure sufficient free disk space (at least 200MB)
Mirrored or striped volumes across multiple disks should be broken
Dynamic disks with utility partitions should use cold cloning
Disable Windows Simple File Sharing (Windows XP only)
Disable anti-virus software
Defrag hard disks
Shutdown any un-needed Windows Services
Clean-up any temporary files and un-needed data
Run chkdsk
Keep users off if possible
Power off VM if not using hot cloning
VCB VM exports need editing prior to import
Edit virtual disk filenames inside .vmx
Rename filenames for .vmdk files to match those listed in .vmx
Edit index .vmdk file to change references to span files

4. Network Preparation
Open TCP/UDP ports 139, 445, and 902 (Converter 3.0.0) or 443 (Converter 3.0.1)
Open network ports between source and destination
Alternative is to create a VM visible to source, copy VM files to location visible to destination, and import VM
Use FQDN to connect to both source and VI3

5. Converter Preparation
Run on OS greater than or equal to source if source is
VM and powered off, or
Symantec Livestate System Image

6. Cloning
Starter edition limitations and workarounds
Cannot remote hot clone directly into VI3
Workaround 1: install Converter on source machine
Workaround 2: select standalone VM as destination, and then import VM to VI3 using two steps
Cannot run multiple tasks concurrently
Workaround: run multiple copies of Converter
Cannot cold clone
Workaround: create new VM, use third-party cloning application such as Ghost, and run Converter configure
Do not resize volume for fastest clone speed (block-level copying)
Resize volumes if source disks have inefficient utilization (resorts to file-level copying)
Use cold-cloning disk-based cloning (not volume-based) for non-Windows systems
Use hot cloning for Windows NT 4.0 systems to avoid NTFS upgrade
Destination needs to be writeable

7. Configure
Avoid cloning utility partitions
Check partition numbers in boot.ini
Automatic Install VMware Tools option is only available for ESX Server VMs

8. Clean-Up Prior to Power On
Edit VM settings according to desired goal
Number of vCPUs
Add/Delete USB devices
Add/Delete Serial and parallel devices
Remove Floppy drive if not needed
SCSI controller type (BusLogic vs. LSI Logic)
OEM source may require license activation
SMBIOS.reflectHost =TRUE in .vmx may avoid reactivation
Requires destination host to have same hardware

9. Clean-Up After Power On
Detect hardware
VMware Tools installation may hang if hardware not detected
Allow reboots to occur
Detect hardware and VMware Tools installation
Verify HAL and change if necessary
Remove non-present old hardware
CMD prompt type set DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1
Next type DEVMGMT.MSC and select Show Hidden Devices
Delete any old grayed out non-present hardware