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VMware Releases New Converter Tool

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

October 2, 2006, 1:22 PM

VMware on Monday released a beta version of VMware Converter 3, a tool that takes a physical computer system and transforms it into a virtual machine image to be used with the company's products. The new release combines two previously separate tools: VMware P2V Assistant and Virtual Machine Importer.

In addition to the physical-to-virtual conversion, Converter 3 can also change third-party VM formats including Microsoft Virtual Server and Virtual PC and Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery into VMware compatible images. Converter 3 will be available free of charge, with a special Enterprise Edition for paying customers. A beta version is available for download now.

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By duran.chen

edited Oct 31, 2007 - 2:40 AM

??????

Score: 0

By c-paulm

posted Dec 5, 2006 - 7:58 PM

I have converted two NT4.0 images from MS virtual server. Both are PDC's for separate domains. I can log in with an admin account but cannot get to user manager or server manager as it cannot find the domain. The IP address and subnet mask are correct but don't seem to bind to the network card. I have installed WMware tools and tried a secondary NIC. I have entered the server details into lmhosts but an ipconfig returns nothing and pinging the local IP address returns 'destination unreachable'. Does anyone have any ideas?

I have two other fresh enter NT4.0 images working (that were not converted)

Thanks.

Score: 0

By kwasher

posted Dec 26, 2006 - 6:18 PM

Have you tried removing the virtual Nic Cards or the virtual network - then recreating?

Score: 0

By jshurst

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 8:49 AM

I've been using VMWare for a few weeks now and I have to say that it is great. It's kind of slow with Vista, but then again I'm running it on a 1 processor, 1 GB machine, so I can't complain.

Score: 0

By kwasher

posted Dec 26, 2006 - 6:17 PM

I have to say the imaging/conversion process is more efficient/streamlined compared to the Automated Deployment Services - process using MS Virtual Server 2005. Virtual Server 2005 is great if you are clustering windows machines, otherwise its Vmware all the way for me(preferably running on a linux host!

Score: 0

By Vantorax

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 8:45 AM

Taking a Ghost image file and turning it into a virtual machine? Excellent idea!

Score: 0

By bozoRebebe

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 10:26 AM

...not so fast. Ghost is not what you think it is; and what you may be able to do with it. Do not try to waste your time, though. But nice try--if you know what I mean.

Score: 0

By Real1tyczech

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 4:18 PM

From their website posted in the article:

Supports conversion of 3rd party disk
image formats such as Microsoft Virtual
PC, Microsoft Virtual Server, Symantec
Backup Exec System Recovery (formerly
LiveState Recovery) and Norton Ghost9
(or higher) to VMware virtual machine
disk format.

Emphasis added.

Score: 0

By ds0934

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 10:18 PM

Sounds cool. Should make it easier and more useful for pulling in an image of a critical system to use for testing prior to doing an actual mod to the physical instance.

Score: 0

By xxdesmus

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 8:28 PM

wow that sounds cool...hopefully this works as well as it sounds.

Score: 0

By vcorvinus

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 3:58 PM

Now i can convert my windows laptop into a VM.... and run it under Linux. Whoooo !

Score: 0

By foxfyre

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 5:03 PM

Let's see...
You could Always run Windows under Linux in VMWare...

And 'making' your laptop into a VM on a desktop...now THAT sure adds functionality!

;-)

Score: 0

By Real1tyczech

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 5:12 PM

Does you company use standard
installation images? If so,
this is actually a boon. Image
the laptop, covnert it, install
any OS you want, and you're
good to go.

Y&ou can run the "corporate"
image under whatever OS you
want now.

Score: 0

By foxfyre

edited Oct 2, 2006 - 10:39 PM

You are obviously new to VMWare.

You have been able to create (either fresh or from a backup of an existing image), store, restore, or push out unique or standardized images from the beginning. And their reader allows to to import 'foreign' images from their library of images and distribute then as well after examination for security issues.

That has been one of the major advantages for use in backups and disaster recovery. And what you can do with servers makes what you can do with individual PCs pale by comparison.

And you have been able to do this under any of a myriad different environments that run in the X86 platform - and now this includes under OSX.

NONE of the fundamental capabilities mentioned are new to VMWARE. Rather its a marvelous product simply made just a bit more elegant with the combined feature sets.

Score: 0

By Real1tyczech

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 9:17 AM

foxfyre said...

You are obviously new to
VMWare.

----------------------------

You know what they say about
assumptions...

I didn't mention foreign images
once. Don't know where you
pulled that from.

It is now free, it is now
extremely simple, and it can now
be used by anyone who wishes to,
where it used to be available
only to those who worked in IT
or spent an exorbitant amount of
money on it.

And I didn't mention the server
capabilities simply because it
does not have anything to do
with the article.

I didn't mean to imply it couldn't
be done in the past, merely that
it couldn't realistically be done
by anyone outside of IT or via
a boatload of cash.

Score: 0

By foxfyre

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 11:01 AM

Well, now you prove that you are not very familiar with VMWare.

First, I mentioned the other capabilities as ALL of the verious attributes have been available for a LONG time! And what is this nonsense about "not by anyone outside IT"???? It has always been available to anyone who was interested and chose to learn it!

And VMWare is NOT free. Only VMWare SERVER is, while the Workstation and Enterprise versions are NOT free.

All the article addresses is the consolidation of various features heretofore requiring separate 'steps'!

My point stands.

Score: 0

By Real1tyczech

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 2:10 PM

I'm not going to continue this.

Much...

3 things:

VMplayer.
VMware converter 3.
Free.

That's it. Point match and set.

See ya.

Score: 0

By foxfyre

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 3:37 PM

Yes genius,
You have demonstrated the ability to read the words in the article above. Now you might want to try reading for meaning.

YOU NEED VMWARE INSTALLED TO USE VMPLAYER (aside from simply looking at the VM!) OR TO USE CONVERTER!

The tools are of no practical use if you do not have VMWare installed!
And VMWare workstation is still a pay package!

Quoting from VMWare's website:
"VMware will continue to charge for Workstation and has no plans to drop its price. Workstation has unique, advanced features that are not available in VMware Server. These features include the ability to manage multi-tier configurations and multiple snapshots. Workstation is a productivity tool used by developers and technical professionals on an individual PC. VMware will continue to develop compelling features on this product that dramatically streamline software testing and development."

So accumulate all of the free utilities you want. They are of no use without the application!

Score: 0

By Real1tyczech

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 4:12 PM

YOU NEED VMWARE INSTALLED TO USE
VMPLAYER

Proof you are an idiot.

You can yell all you want, you are
still wrong.

Check it:
http://www.vmware.com/products/player/

You can use any VM. Without VMare
workstation.

Free.

Dolt.

Score: 0

By foxfyre

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 4:32 PM

Yes genius, but with VMPlayer only you cannot edit or make any changes to the configuration or to the VMs!

It is akin to using Acrobat reader!

And you cannot make use of the other tools about which this thread is about!

In order to do anything more you need VMWare! There is more to using VMs than to simply load them! It is generally nice to be able to modify them to make them useful as if one was smart enough to act as the admin! Without VMWare, you can't!

Duh!

VMWare Player was made especially for rocket scientists such as yourself!

Score: 0

By Real1tyczech

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 4:56 PM

I use VMPlayer daily. I can use it as I can any other OS. Changes made within the guest are saved.

Sure, I cannot add a 2nd Virtual drive. Big deal.

As for using Converter, you do not need a paid VMWare license for it to work. Simple as that. I don't know how else to explain it to you.

G'night.

Score: 0

By foxfyre

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 5:29 PM

As usual, you get HALF of the information correct!

You cannot make snapshots of the VM nor of changes to them for backup or reversion.
Thus the VMs cannot be modified. They are basically a run only VM without VMWare.

And no, you do not need VMWare to have Converter work, you need it to manipulate and use the images it creates!

Score: 0

By sorlag

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 3:49 PM

Sounds really nice... making a vm image from a normal machine :)

Score: 0

By Frostek

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 1:51 PM

This is a very cool bit of programming.

If only there was more companies making exciting and innovative products like this! :-)

Score: 0

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