Reference Guide

vConverter v4.1 Chapter 1 Introduction 2
vConverter™ is a powerful software tool that converts a Windows® operating system
(OS) running on a physical machine to a guest OS running on a virtual machine (VM).
2BVirtualization and VMware Overview
As companies and industries grow, their technology needs change. These changes are
often implemented within complex systems running business-critical applications.
Usually there is an increased demand for shared hardware and software resources. To
manage this demand, many companies establish virtual environments. Doing so can
increase an organization’s agility and efficiency while lowering its costs.
Most companies have a number of specialized physical servers and workstations that are
underutilized. Virtualizing such an environment increases and balances utilization by
consolidating the physical machines into a single physical host that runs multiple VMs.
The VMs share the resources—processor, memory, network cards, and disks—of the
physical host. The work that the physical machines did previously continues, but with
greater efficiency. The host runs a layer of virtualization software that manages the
environment. Each VM’s OS—usually Windows or Linux—functions as if the hardware
were physical. Guest software can see only x processor, y memory, and so forth.
Windows XP
Development
Test Machine
Windows
Server
Exchange
Server
Windows
Server
VPN
Linux
SQL Server
…
Multiple Physical Machines
VM
Windows XP
Development
Test Machine
VM
Windows
Server
Exchange
Server
VM
Windows
Server
VPN
VM
Linux
SQL Server
…
Sin
g
le ESX Server with Multi
p
le VMs
Machine 1
Hardware
Machine 2
Hardware
Machine 3
Hardware
Machine 4
Hardware
…
Pooled hardware shared by all VMs.
Windows XP
Development
Test Machine
Windows
Server
Exchange
Server
Windows
Server
VPN
Linux
SQL Server
…
Multiple Physical Machines
VM
Windows XP
Development
Test Machine
VM
Windows
Server
Exchange
Server
VM
Windows
Server
VPN
VM
Linux
SQL Server
…
Sin
g
le ESX Server with Multi
p
le VMs
Machine 1
Hardware
Machine 2
Hardware
Machine 3
Hardware
Machine 4
Hardware
…
Pooled hardware shared by all VMs.