Migrating from Hyper-V to VMWare

[localzuk]

So, as the title suggests, we are going to be migrating our main cluster from Hyper-V to VMWare soon. Has anyone done this themselves, and if so, do you have any tips?

[PotNoodleTech]

Out of interest, how come? Gonna work out more expensive!

 

When I moved from VMWare to Hyper-V I thought I was going to miss VMware a lot, but I don't.

[ADMaster]

I went the other way around too and MS has a tool to convert vmdk to vhd/x.

 

I believe virtual box will convert between formats.

I think you have 3 options.

1. If vmware has a tool for the job, unlikely as your asking. I've not used vmware for about 5 years now.

 

2. Use something to convert the disks.

Make a copy, convert, attach to new VM with the same settings.

 

3. Use your backups to do a BMR into vmware.

 

I let the systems run side by side for a time and just slowly converted a few servers at a time.

Some servers were left until they retired because they just didn't want to move nicely.

Although newer versions of windows handle hardware changes better.

One of the servers that stayed for a while was a Linux VM because hyper-v didn't support it at the time. That won't be an issue for you because it is supported now and you're going the other way.

[FN-GM]

So, as the title suggests, we are going to be migrating our main cluster from Hyper-V to VMWare soon. Has anyone done this themselves, and if so, do you have any tips?

 

I haven't done it this way so I am not 100% sure it will work but have you seen the Vmware converter tool?

 

Thanks

[ADMaster]

Ah good idea, I didn't think of that, option 4 treat it as a p2v.

[rich_tech]

VMware converter all the way, makes p2v / v2v pretty flawless, I converted physical, Citrix xenserver and virtualbox straight into the cluster I built

[Domino]

VMWare converter will do it as a v2v no problem.

 

Don't forget to install vmware tools, and remove legacy hardware by starting devmgmt as below

 

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1

start devmgmt.msc

 

In addition, use vmxnet3 network drivers, and add data drives to a second SCSI controller of type "paravirtual"

[3s-gtech]

VMWare Converter is excellent. Not used it for several years as we're mostly Hyper-V, but still got an ESXi box and found it very easy to convert physical and virtual to it. Could be pretty time intensive if you have lots of hosts/VMs.