Physical to Virtual Process - Spiceworks Community

SUBJECT: VIRTUAL TO PHYSICAL MIGRATION KEVIN SHAWPhysical to VirtualObjectiveThe following process will walk you through how to convert an existing physical server orworkstation into a virtual.This example will be migrating a server from P2V called Tridon-TS and it will be installing andconfiguring the vhd files on a Hyper-V host server.MaterialsSoftware and Hardware requirements:• Virtual host environment, for example Hyper-V, Windows 7, Virtual Box• Disk2Vhd software (download from sysinternals ... http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/ee656415)• A location to store the new vhd files while they are being created (external hard drive,network hard drive, etc)• Software to locate the serial number of the existing Windows installation key (just in case)Procedures1. Download and extract the contents of the disk2vhd zip file on the physical box you are goingto convert. This program does NOT require installation.2. Attach an external hard drive or map a drive letter to a location where you are going to storethe newly created vhd file(s).3. Download/run the software (like jellybean) to determine the Windows installation key anddocument this in case it is required later.4. Clean up the hard drive(s) of the physical box you are going to convert.• You CANNOT create a vhd greater than 127GB• The disk2vhd will only create a vhd file as big as the data on each hard drive ... for exampleif there is a 250GB C: drive but it only contains 45GB of data and a 500GB D: drive but itonly contains 85GB of data, the program will create two (2) vhd files 45GB and 85GB insize• You do NOT need to defrag the physical drives (due to the above creation size process)5. In figure 1 you will see the creation screen of a disk2vhd startedPAGE 1 OF 8 OCTOBER 8, 2012

SUBJECT: VIRTUAL TO PHYSICAL MIGRATION KEVIN SHAWFigure 16. You will see that there is two (2) hard drives being created and it is going to store them in theW:\Tridon-TS\ folder7. One file will be called Tridon-TS-0 and the other will be called Tridon-TS-18. While the above process is completing you can start to prepare the new vhd environment onyour virtual host (you need the files to complete the preparation process).9. Create the appropriate folder on the Hyper-V host ... eg. D:\Virtual Hard Disks\Tridon-TS10. Once the Disk2vhd is completed creating the virtual drive(s) you can continue.11. Copy the vhd file(s) into the D:\Virtual Hard Disks\Tridon-TS folder on the Hyper-V host12. Create your virtual environment in Hyper-V (do not create new hard drives, instead add thetwo hard drives) ... see figure 2PAGE 2 OF 8 OCTOBER 8, 2012

SUBJECT: VIRTUAL TO PHYSICAL MIGRATION KEVIN SHAWFigure 213. Figures 3-5 you will show the second drive being added.Figure 3PAGE 3 OF 8 OCTOBER 8, 2012

SUBJECT: VIRTUAL TO PHYSICAL MIGRATION KEVIN SHAW14. Figure 4 shows where you select the controller on the left side and then select “Hard Drive”in the right hand window so that you can add the next hard drive.Figure 415. Figure 5 shows the second added hard drive.Figure 5PAGE 4 OF 8 OCTOBER 8, 2012

SUBJECT: VIRTUAL TO PHYSICAL MIGRATION KEVIN SHAW16. Figure 6 shows where you select the DVD drive in the left windowFigure 617. Figure 7 shows where you add D:\Windows\system32\vmguest.iso to the image file for theDVD drive. It is important to note that I always end up adding this to the “Media” menu inorder for it to start the integrated services installation properly.Figure 7PAGE 5 OF 8 OCTOBER 8, 2012

SUBJECT: VIRTUAL TO PHYSICAL MIGRATION KEVIN SHAW18. Once you have created the environment it is now time to boot the OS. It is important torealize the following things:• When it first starts to boot you will have to quickly select the option to “Connect” to therunning server• You will have to change the boot option from “Disk2vhd Windows Server 2003, Standard”to “Windows Server 2003, Standard” (you have 3 seconds to do this in or you will have toreboot the virtual and try again)• See Figure 8Figure 819. After the server has booted you will need to have a lot of patience.20. You will use your keyboard and arrow keys only (no mouse).21. You have to wait for it to try to activate Windows and select No using the keyboard.PAGE 6 OF 8 OCTOBER 8, 2012

SUBJECT: VIRTUAL TO PHYSICAL MIGRATION KEVIN SHAW22. To install the “integrated services” you have to select “Media” from the menu and then add D:\Windows\system32\vmguest.iso to the selection. This will eventually cause the integratedservices to start installing.23. Reboot the server as required and make sure you change the selection to “Windows Server2003, Standard”24. Sign into the server25. Modify your nic (presuming you will have to hard code your IP)26. Reboot the server and make sure you change the selection to “Windows Server 2003,Standard”27. Sign into the server28. Right click “My Computer” -> “Properties”, select the “advanced” tab, in the “Startup andRecovery” section, click on Settings then in the “default operating system” pull downselection pick “Windows Server 2003, Standard”. This will cause it to boot into the rightmode and you will not have to manually select it each time on server start up. See figures 9and 10Figure 9Figure 10PAGE 7 OF 8 OCTOBER 8, 2012

SUBJECT: VIRTUAL TO PHYSICAL MIGRATION KEVIN SHAW29. Reboot, sign in and activate Windows30. After activating Windows you should be able to connect via a normal RDP clientPAGE 8 OF 8 OCTOBER 8, 2012