Linux P2V

This page describes the usual steps necessary to convert a Linux system into a virtual machine running under VMware ESX Server. The same steps should mostly apply to VMware Server, Workstation or even Qemu.

The focus is on Red Hat and CentOS guests as they are not only supported, but benefit from kudzu and rescue disk capability built-in. Other distributions can of course be converted but the exact steps will vary.

The steps can be broken down as follows.

Preparation

You will want to have the necessary tools in place as well as some calculations. Consider the follow aspects of your system.

• How much physical RAM? Is it over or under-utilized?

• How much Swap space and where?

• Disk layout - know exactly the partitions, sizes and FS types. This can be gleaned from the df output combined with /etc/fstab.

• Rescue disk - this will be important for the recovery of the system once the disk data has been converted over. Conversion puts the system into a "new" environment of emulated devices, and it is very likely that kudzu will not quite get you there (details TBD).

• Knowledge of destination environment. For instance, I have found the following recommendations apply to VMware ESX server platform for hosting the specific Red Hat and CentOS versions shown.
  • RHEL2 & CentOS-2: Use BusLogic kernel module (BusLogic)
  • RHEL3 & CentOS-3: Use LSI Logic kernel module (mptscsih)
  • RHEL4 & CentOS-4: Use Vmware-supplied BusLogic kernel module - see

Disk conversion

TBD

First-boot

TBD

Tying up loose ends

TBD

See Also

• ESX Server 3 Systems Compatibility Guide (PDF)
• ESX Server 2.x Systems Compatibility Guide (PDF)