Creating a VM using vmdk files etc

[m1ddy]

Morning,

I have an SGE Airtight networks virtual appliance in the form of various .vmdk / .vmsd / .vmx / .vmxf files. How do I go about getting this up and running as a virtual machine. When creating a virtual machine you obv get the option to select which OS it is running. However, I have always created a VM from an ISO file at let it boot from a CD. How do i get the above files in to create the VM?

Cheers

[SimpleSi]

I use VMServer and you just find add an appliance, browse to the folder with the files (I usually put all VMs in one master folder) and it automagically adds the new appliance

(Just done it 30 mins ago to add a new FOG VM on a server)

regards

Simon

[m1ddy]

This is a full ESXi box. Unsure how to get them in.

[Duke]

Connect to the ESXi host using the vSphere Client (assuming v4.0) then go to the configuration > storage tab, right-click on the datastore you want to use (be it the local disk or network-attached storage) and choose 'Browse Datastore'. From there, make a new folder and upload your files into it, then right-click on the VMX file and choose 'add to inventory'.

Hope that helps,
Chris

[DAckroyd]

once you get the VMDK files onto the datastore then you can right click on a host and create a new Virual Machine and when it asks about the drive use an existing drive and select the ones you just uploaded then they should just boot

Also: If you always use the ISO to install the server then look at making templates and deploying from them - you'll save hours

[m1ddy]

All copied over but when starting the VM i get....

Power On virtual machine
Syferlock
Failed to
open disk
scsi0:0:
Unsupported
and/or
invalid disk
type 7. Did
you forget to
import the
disk
first?Unable
to create
virtual
SCSI device
for
scsi0:0,
'/vmfs/vol-
lumes/4af44-
326-8a476f2-
2-7882-0026-
b93edc1c/Sy-
ferlock/27_-
All_in-one/-
27_All_in-o-
ne.vmdk'
Module
DevicePower-
On power on
failed.
View details...
root
06/11/2009 16:52:00
06/11/2009 16:52:00
06/11/2009 16:52:01

That error

[Duke]

It looks like the virtual appliance was created with an earlier/later version of VMware and isn't compatible with the version of ESXi you're running. I had this problem once and there was a fairly simple fix, just download the Standalone VMware Converter and run the virtual appliance through it. It should let you select the source and target of the VM files, as well as what version of virtual machine you want to use.

What version of ESXi have you got installed? If you're using ESXi 4.0 then converting the virtual appliance to type 7 should solve the problem. If the appliance was created with ESXi 4.0 and you're running 3.5 or 3.0 then you may need to convert it to the older type, or alternatively upgrade your ESXi install to 4.0.

Cheers,
Chris

[m1ddy]

Running version 4 mate.

[Duke]

Give the converter a go then, it did the job for me and you can even provide it with the hostname/user/password/datastore of your ESXi box and it will upload it and add it to the inventory for you at the end of the conversion process.

[m1ddy]

Giving the converter a go. Bit confused as to which options to use though.

I have selected "VMWare Workstation or other VMWare Virtual machine" and given it the path to the .vmx file. Then I have selected a source destination for the files. I am not too sure what type VM to convert it to tho. When choosing the VM product to convert to I only have the option to convert to workstation, server, player or fusion. It doesnt list ESX as being supported anywhere and the highest version is goes to is 6.5, not 7 as was suggested?

Bit confused

[Duke]

Here's what I did:

Download/install/run VMware vCenter Converter Standalone
Click Convert Machine
Choose the source as a VMware Workstation or other VMWare Virtual machine
Browse to and select the VMX file
Provide your ESXi server details
On the next screen, give the VM a name, choose a datastore, and the VM version (Version 7)
Hit next and it should convert and upload the VM for you

If the converter will allow you to select VMware Workstation or other VMWare Virtual machine, choose your VMX file, and proceed to the next page, then that next screen should let you choose the ESXi server and VM version.

Chris