Converting Red Hat and CentOS Linux physical server into VMware VSphere ESX servers isn't easy as can compare to MS Windows. It really is even harder is that you have older version of Red Hat like 7. 2 or Linux box with software raid.
I had successfully converted some unit of Red Hat 7. 2. and software-raid Linux box for previous years. The procedure for P2V migration needs a little efforts as well as its challenging process. You could faced all kinds of issues after P2V migration for example Kernel Panic or worst will be the Linux OS shouldn't be booted up caused by no virtual disc drive is available.
Hot Cloning using VMware tools used for that conversion task:
- VMware ESXi 4. 0. 0 or ESX 4. 0. 0
- VMware Converter Standalone 4. 0. 1
From experience this are your favorite tool to get used for P2V migration. I faced a great deal of issue using ESX 4. 1. x and force to downgraded to your migration process. Worst of all scenario if hot cloning isn't working then one method- cold cloning method using Clonzilla will direct you towards almost all Linux-disto cloning. Let's believe that you possessed perform the migration successfully completed without error. Your next challenge is to become Red Hat or CentOS Linux too up.
- You really need to decide on the correct Disk Controller either is BusLogic Parallel or LSI Logic Parallel from Vmware Image setting. For just about any process, else your Linux wouldn't find your virtual hardisk.
- Boot from System Rescue and chroot with your /mnt/sysimage.
- Add in disk controller into /etc/modules. conf and remove any raid setting.
- Recompile kernel and Reinstall grub
- Edit the /etc/fstab and /etc/grub. conf to alter many of the hda to sda so it might be mounted properly when system boot
- Once system booted correctly, run Kudzu to re-initialization
- install vmware tools
The steps particularly true the required process for migrating physical server into VMware VSphere ESX servers. There are however, lots of codes and other configuration requires to be done.
