Xen: How to Convert An Image-Based Guest To An LVM-Based Guest

This short article explains how you can move/convert a Xen guest that uses disk images to LVM volumes. Virtual machines that use disk images are very slow and heavy on disk IO, therefore it’s often better to use LVM. Also, LVM-based guests are easier to back up (using LVM snapshots).

I do not issue any guarantee that this will work for you!

Via Xen: How to Convert An Image-Based Guest To An LVM-Based Guest | HowtoForge – Linux Howtos and Tutorials.

How to clone virtual machines in VMware ESXi

This is the tricky step. Unlike VMware Server, the Infrastructure Client does not have the File > Open option, allowing you to browse for existing .vmx configuration files and registering them. So it seems you might be stuck.

The answer lies in the datastore. In the destination folder, where you have just created your clone, right-click on the .vmx configuration file. Select Add to Inventory.

via How to clone virtual machines in VMware ESXi.

Update:  This indeed worked.  The problem occurs in that if a .vmx file is copied directly from Workstation, it can contain erroneous info that can cause problems.  In my case eth0 would not pass traffic.  I noticed something wrong by examining the virtual machines on Configuration -> Networking when the esxi box is selected.  I noticed the vm I was having problems with wasn’t listed so I thought to examine the .vmx file.

The copied over .vmx file had ethernet0.vnet=”/dev/vmnet0″ which is a Workstation reference that doesn’t apply to esxi.  By eliminating this and adding ethernet0.networkName = “VM Network” networking worked.

 

VMware Converter: How to Move Physical Machines to VMs with VMware Converter – Part 2

In our case, we selected physical computer but notice all the different sources you can import virtual machines from. You could import an existing virtual machine, a physical machine that this program is running on, or a remote machine over the network.

via VMware Converter: How to Move Physical Machines to VMs with VMware Converter – Part 2.

How to Convert a KVM to a VDI

KVM is a bare metal virtualization software use to run several operating system on the same hardware. VDI is the file type used in VirtualBox, Sun Microsystems’ desktop virtualization product. A desktop virtualization product allows you to run an operating system in a window independent from your main operating system. VirtualBox and KVM use different file formats to store the virtual machine and transferring a KVM virtual machine to VirtualBox requires an indirect approach.

Via How to Convert a KVM to a VDI | eHow.com.

How To Build A Low Cost SAN

In today’s world there is a obvious need of information sharing in every department and network storage can help us to achieve this most growing challenge. Here in this article we are focusing our concentration to make a San which has following features:

  • Low cost and easily affordable
  • Ensured Scalability
  • High Reliability
  • Easily Manageable
  • High Performance
  • Ensured Security
  • High availability

via How To Build A Low Cost SAN | HowtoForge – Linux Howtos and Tutorials.

Reassign a vswif to a new vmnic

VMware doesn’t like having two service console connections with different IP addresses in the same subnet, so I have two options.

1.  Create a service console connection in a different subnet and access the host from that subnet using the VIclient.
2.  Enter the commands directly on the host console.

I recommend option two.  Keep in mind that this process temporarily disrupts network communications to the host via the service console IP.

After obtaining physical access to the host’s console (or network access via a DRAC or ILO), log in and su – to establish root.

via Reassign a vswif to a new vmnic « Layer3.