VMware Converter Tips

As you all know, I recently converted an old SBS 2003 server into a virtual machine onto a new Dell PowerEdge 2900 server. This server ran AD, Exchange, BES 4, and a small SQL database. From that experience i decided to come up with my top 5 tips for a successful P2V conversion.

For those of you who did not know, I used VMWare Converter 3.2.

1. Do not resize system partitions or partitions that have database files on them (exchange and /or SQL)
2. If possible, use the Cold Clone method rather than the Hot Clone method
3. If using Hot Clone, shutdown as many services as possible on the source machine
4. Alway take a full system backup before proceeding with the P2V process.
5. Remove as much virtual hardware as possible such as USB, Serial, and Floppy. The less hard was the VM uses the more stable it will be.

Good Luck!