How To Convert Virtual Machines From Vmware To Hyper-V

Converting virtual machines from VMware to other formats or platforms is a common requirement for various reasons, such as migration to different hypervisors, testing, or optimizing resource usage. Here’s a detailed guide on how to perform these conversions efficiently.

Converting VMware VMs to OVF/OVA Format

When you need to migrate your VMware virtual machines to cloud infrastructure or other environments that support the Open Virtualization Format (OVF), you can use several tools provided by VMware.

Using VMware Workstation or Fusion

To export a VMware virtual machine to OVF format using VMware Workstation or Fusion, follow these steps:

1. Ensure the VM is Not Encrypted: You cannot export an encrypted VM to OVF format. Make sure the virtual machine is not encrypted before proceeding.
2. Power Off the VM: The virtual machine must be turned off to export it to OVF format.
3. Export to OVF:
   • Select the virtual machine in VMware Workstation or Fusion.
   • Go to File > Export to OVF.
   • Enter a name for the OVF file and select a directory to save it.
   • Click Save to start the export process. This may take several minutes, and the status bar will show the progress.

Using vSphere Client

If you are using vSphere Client, the process is similar:

1. Select the VM: Choose the virtual machine you want to export.
2. Export OVF Template:
   • Go to File > Export > Export OVF Template.
   • Enter a name for the template in the dialog window. Note that characters like stars (*) will be converted to underscores.

Using VMware OVF Tool

For more advanced users, the VMware OVF Tool provides a command-line interface to convert VMs to OVF format.

1. Download and Install VMware OVF Tool: Download the tool from the VMware website and install it on your system.
2. Open Command Prompt: Navigate to the directory where the ovftool.exe is located, typically C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware OVF Tool.
3. Run the Conversion Command:
   • Use the following syntax to convert a VMX file to OVF:

     .\ovftool.exe <path to the vmx file> <path to the OVF file>
     

     For example:

     .\ovftool.exe "C:\VM\VM-example\VM-example.vmx" "C:\VM\VM-example\VM-example.ovf"
     

   • This command will create an OVF file with your virtual machine.

Converting VMware VMs to Hyper-V Format

If you need to migrate your VMware virtual machines to a Hyper-V environment, you can use tools provided by Microsoft.

Using Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter (MVMC)

MVMC is a free tool that allows you to convert VMware VMs to Hyper-V format.

1. Download MVMC: Get the tool from the Microsoft website.
2. Run the Conversion Wizard:
   • Launch MVMC and follow the wizard to select the source VMware VM and the destination Hyper-V environment.
   • You can convert entire VMs running on ESXi hosts or individual virtual disks.
3. Convert Using PowerShell: For more advanced conversions, you can use PowerShell cmdlets. For example:

   New-SCV2V -VMHost <Host> -VMXPath <string> [options]
   

   This allows you to convert VMware virtual disks to VHD format and attach them to a new Hyper-V VM.

Using System Center Virtual Machine Manager (VMM)

VMM is a commercial tool that offers more comprehensive management and conversion capabilities.

1. Navigate to VMM Console:
   • Go to VMs and Services > Home > Create > Create Virtual Machines > Convert Virtual Machine.
2. Initiate the Conversion:
   • Follow the conversion wizard to select the source VMware VM and the destination Hyper-V environment.
   • Monitor the progress of the conversion in the VMM console.

Converting Physical Machines to VMware VMs

For scenarios where you need to convert physical machines to VMware virtual machines, VMware Converter is an excellent tool.

Using VMware Converter

VMware Converter, now known as vCenter Converter Standalone, can convert both physical hosts and virtual machines to VMware virtual machines.

1. Select the Source Machine:
   • Choose whether you are converting a physical machine or another virtual machine. For physical machines, select the remote Windows or Linux machine and enter the necessary credentials.
2. Install the Converter Agent:
   • The tool will install an agent on the source machine. You can choose to automatically uninstall the agent once the conversion is complete.
3. Select the Destination:
   • Choose the destination type, such as a VMware Infrastructure virtual machine or a VMware Workstation virtual machine.
4. Configure Options:
   • Edit any configuration options as needed, such as storage and virtual machine version.
5. Start the Conversion:
   • Click Finish to begin the conversion process. The tool will handle the rest, making the conversion seamless.

Best Practices and Considerations

• Backup Before Conversion: Always back up your virtual machines before performing any conversions to prevent data loss.
• Check Compatibility: Ensure that the destination environment supports the version of the virtual machine you are converting. For example, VMware Converter may not work without errors for newer VMware solutions like vSphere 7.0 Update 2 and higher.
• Resource Allocation: Be mindful of the resources required for the conversion process, especially when dealing with large virtual machines. Ensure that your network, CPU, and storage resources are sufficient to handle the conversion efficiently.

By following these steps and considering the best practices outlined, you can successfully convert your VMware virtual machines to various formats and platforms, ensuring a smooth transition and minimal downtime.