User guide

vConverter Functional Overview 23
Features and Functions
Features and Functions
P2V for Windows Servers
vConverter is a task, enterprise-level consolidation/migration application. It allows you
to capture a live physical or virtual Windows system and transfer its data directly to a
Windows shared folder, Microsoft Hyper-V, or ESX host. vConverter's physical to
virtual (P2V) and virtual to virtual (V2V) approaches ensure consistent results: the
converted image will mirror the source. There is no additional software to install on the
source. Nor are any helper components required. You need not be present at the source
during the conversion process.
P2V for Linux Servers
vConverter provides support for converting Linux servers to virtual machines. To
ensure data consistency, Linux sources must be converted in cold conversion mode
using the VMware vMA with vConverter Virtual Appliance components on the target
server. P2V Linux conversions occur in block mode only.
V2P for Windows Servers
Windows VMs can be converted to physical servers. By booting the physical server into
the vConverter boot environment (via PXE or the boot CD), it becomes a conversion
target that can be managed by the vConverter console. V2P conversions are block, and
occur in cold-mode only.
Virtual Appliances Components for VMware vMA
The Virtual Appliance components are installed in the VMware vMA, and host the
Target Server Agent and other utilities that would normally be run in the Console
Operating System(COS). For the ESXi platforms, which don’t have a COS, converting
to the VMware vMA with Virtual Appliance components is the only method available.
Virtual Appliance components are also required for Linux OS conversions.
Note When using the VA for any task, the VM will be created on the first step.