The OVF to XenServer conversion is preferable because it is faster and can be simpler for a workload consisting of multiple virtual disks. There are several tools to choose from when converting to OVF. A partial list follows:
• Virtual Center 2.5/ESX 3.5 Update 3
• VMWare Workstation 6.5
• VMWare Converter 3.0.3
• Ovftool
• VMware Studio 1.0
Note XenConvert 2.0 cannot convert from an OVA created by VMware tool.
Please always choose to create to OVF.
Starting the XenConvert Wizard
Supported conversion methods are selected and performed using the XenConvert Wizard.
To start the wizard
From the Windows Start menu, click All Programs > Citrix >
XenConvert > XenConvert 2.0.
The Citrix XenConvert Welcome screen appears. Refer to the appropriate conversion method for conversion specific details.
Note If you encounter issues with VHDs during conversion, see “XenConvert Configuration File” on page 38. You can modify some parameters in the XenConvert.ini file to correct VHD problems.
18 Citrix XenConvert Guide
Converting From a Physical Machine
This section describes the following physical-to-virtual conversion methods supported by XenConvert:
• “Physical to VHD”
• “Physical to XVA”
• “Physical to XenServer”
• “Physical to OVF Package”
• “Physical to Provisioning Services vDisk”
• “Converting Single Volumes”
Before Converting From a Physical Machine
• Disable “Windows AutoPlay”
Physical to VHD
Select this method to convert a single volume on a physical disk to a volume on a VHD.
1. Start the XenConvert Wizard (for details, refer to “Starting the XenConvert Wizard”.)
2. On the Welcome to Citrix XenConvert dialog, choose the following conversion options, then click Next:
From
This Machine (your-computername) To
XenServer Virtual Hard Disk (VHD)
3. Choose the volume to include in this conversion from the drop-down menu.
(Optional.) Check the Empty Recycle Bin checkbox to reduce the disk space required by the conversion (enabled by default), then click Next.
4. Choose a folder to store the VHD in by typing or browsing for the appropriate location, then click Next.
Note If this VHD is also to be used with Provisioning Services, install the Provisioning Services target device software before converting.
Chapter 4 Using XenConvert 19
5. Verify that the conversion information entered is correct, then click Convert. The conversion is complete when the progress bar reaches 100%
and the Status field indicates that the conversion was successful.
6. Click Finish to exit XenConvert (this button displays after the conversion completes or after cancelling the conversion process), or click Log to display the conversion log file in Notepad.
Note For each conversion run, detailed status information is stored in the log file. The log file, XenConvert.txt, is created in the installation directory and provides the following information:
• Start and stop time stamps
• Error and informational messages
Physical to XVA
Select this method to convert a single volume on a physical disk to an XVA.
1. Start the XenConvert Wizard (for details, refer to “Starting the XenConvert Wizard”.)
2. On the Welcome to Citrix XenConvert dialog, choose the following conversion options, then click Next:
From
This Machine (your-computername) To
Xen Virtual Appliance
3. Choose the volume to include in this conversion from the drop-down menu.
(Optional.) Check the Empty Recycle Bin checkbox to reduce the disk space required by the conversion (enabled by default).
4. Click Next.
5. Choose a folder to store the XVA in by typing or browsing for the appropriate location, then click Next.
6. (Optional.) Edit the properties of the new XenServer VM. At this point, you can enter a new name for the VM you are creating. This name will be displayed as the VM name in the Resources pane of XenCenter.
7. Verify that the conversion information entered is correct, then click Convert. The conversion is complete when the progress bar reaches 100%
and the Status field indicates that the conversion was successful.
20 Citrix XenConvert Guide
8. Click Finish to exit XenConvert (this button displays after the conversion completes or after cancelling the conversion process), or click Log to display the conversion log file in Notepad.
Note For each conversion run, detailed status information is stored in the log file. The log file, XenConvert.txt, is created in the installation directory and provides the following information:
• Start and stop time stamps
• Error and informational messages
Physical to XenServer
Select this method to convert a single volume of a physical disk to XenServer.
1. Start the XenConvert Wizard (for details, refer to “Starting the XenConvert Wizard”.)
2. On the Welcome to Citrix XenConvert dialog, choose the following conversion options, then click Next:
From
This Machine (your-computername) To
XenServer
3. Choose the volume to include in this conversion from the drop-down menu.
(Optional.) Check the Empty Recycle Bin checkbox to reduce the disk space required by the conversion (enabled by default).
4. Click Next
5. Provide information about the XenServer that will be receiving the VM (that is, the XenServer that will host the converted physical disk), then click Next:
Hostname
Simple host name, fully qualified domain name, or IP address of the XenServer.
User name
Name of the account with import privileges. Consult the XenServer product documentation for information on account requirements.
Password
Chapter 4 Using XenConvert 21
The password that is associated with User name.
Workspace
Type or browse to the location where you want the XVA files stored. XVA files are the intermediary files created during the conversion process. For conversion efficiency, Citrix recommends specifying a location on the local computer where you are running conversion, preferably on a different partition or drive.
6. (Optional.) Edit the name of your new XenServer VM in the Name textbox.
7. Click Next.
8. Verify that the conversion information entered is correct, then click Convert. The conversion is complete when the progress bar reaches 100%
and the Status field indicates that the conversion was successful.
9. Click Finish to exit XenConvert (this button displays after the conversion completes or after cancelling the conversion process), or click Log to display the conversion log file in Notepad.
Note For each conversion run, detailed status information is stored in the log file. The log file, XenConvert.txt, is created in the installation directory and provides the following information:
• Start and stop time stamps
• Error and informational messages
Physical to OVF Package
Use this method to convert a physical machine to an OVF Package that can be imported into XenServer.
1. Start the XenConvert Wizard (for details, refer to “Starting the XenConvert Wizard”.)
2. On the Welcome to Citrix XenConvert dialog, choose the following conversion options, then click Next:
From
This Machine (your-computername) To
Open Virtualization Format (OVF) Package
3. Choose the volume to include in this conversion from the drop-down menu.
22 Citrix XenConvert Guide
4. Check the Empty Recycle Bin checkbox to automatically empty the recycle bin before the conversion process begins (this option is enabled by default. Emptying the recycle bin reduces the disk space required by the conversion), then click Next to continue.
5. Choose a folder to store the OVF Package by typing or browsing for the appropriate location. Optionally, check:
Create Open Virtual Appliance (OVA)
Check this box to create an OVA Package from the OVF Package for distribution.
Compress Open Virtual Appliance (OVA)
Check this box to reduce the size of the OVA. This option is only available if the Create Open Virtual Appliance box is checked.
Sign with Certificate
Check this box to sign this OVF Package with a certificate in the X.509 format.
• Browse for the appropriate file to include using the File... button
• Enter the password in the Password textbox.
• Click View to view certificate information.
Encrypt
Select this option to encrypt the OVF Package. If the Create Open Virtual Appliance (OVA) is selected, encryption occurs before creating the OVA.
Enter the passphrase with which to encrypt, in the Passphrase” text box.
Confirm the passphrase by entering it again in the Confirm text box.
Note Encrypting an OVF Package will reduce the effectiveness of compression.
6. Click Next.
7. Optionally edit the name of your new OVF Package in the Name textbox.
8. Click Next.
9. Verify that the conversion information entered is correct, then click Convert. The conversion is complete when the progress bar reaches 100%
and the Status field indicates that the conversion was successful.
Chapter 4 Using XenConvert 23
10. Click Finish to exit XenConvert (this button displays after the conversion completes or after cancelling the conversion process), or click Log to display the conversion log file in Notepad.
Note For each conversion run, detailed status information is stored in the log file. The log file, XenConvert.txt, is created in the installation directory and provides the following information:
• Start and stop time stamps
• Error and informational messages
Physical to Provisioning Services vDisk
Use this method to convert a physical machine to a connected Provisioning Services vDisk.
1. Start the XenConvert Wizard (for details, refer to “Starting the XenConvert Wizard”.)
2. On the Welcome to Citrix XenConvert dialog, choose the following conversion options, then click Next:
From
This Machine (your-computername) To
Provisioning Services vDisk
The Convert This Machine to a Provisioning Services vDisk dialog appears.
Note If Windows is configured to manage the page file and the page file exists on a volume other than your boot volume, then the Windows boot volume on the vDisk may not have enough free space to accommodate both the page file and the minimum amount of free space as specified by the WindowFreePercentage parameter. In this case, increase the WindowsFreePercentage parameter.
Refer to “Parameters”for details.
24 Citrix XenConvert Guide
3. XenConvert provides the option to image up to four volumes on a vDisk.
By default, the first four volumes, beginning with drive C:\, are selected (for example C:\, D:\, E:\ and F:\).
Note During the conversion process, if the Windows boot volume (contains the Windows folder) and Windows system volume (contains the boot configuration data) reside on separate partitions, XenConvert combines them onto the same partition. Refer to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314470 for the definitions of the Windows boot and system volumes.
To include additional volumes, under the Volumes column, select the volumes to be imaged from the drop-down menu in the order in which those volumes should be imaged.
The following information displays for each selected volume.
• Capacity (MB); total size of the original volume.
• Usage (MB); amount of space required to image this volume on the master target device.
• Usage (%); percentage of space used on the original volume.
• File System; the file system must be NTFS.
The following information displays for the vDisk image containing the selected volumes.
• Capacity (MB); total size of the vDisk.
• Usage (MB); amount of space required to image all selected volumes on the vDisk.
• Usage (%); percentage of vDisk capacity required to image all selected volumes.
4. Check the Empty Recycle Bin checkbox to avoid adding its contents to the vDisk.
5. Check the Log copied files checkbox to log the name of each copied file to XenConvert.txt.
6. If the vDisk image is going to be used by multiple target devices in Standard Image mode, click the Optimize button.
Optimizer does not need to be run on Private Image vDisks.
7. Click Next, then verify that the conversion information that displays is correct.
Chapter 4 Using XenConvert 25
8. Verify that the conversion information entered is correct, then click Convert. The conversion is complete when the progress bar reaches 100%
and the Status field indicates that the conversion was successful.
Note Windows Vista and later, will display a format dialog for every partition being created. Cancel all format dialogs requests. XenConvert will automatically format each partition.
9. On the warning message that displays, click Yes to confirm the conversion.
This will take several minutes to complete. The progress bar indicates when the imaging progress is complete.
10. Click Finish.
Converting Single Volumes
Use this conversion method to convert a single volume to another volume.
Typically the source and destination volumes are on different disks. The source volume can be a Windows boot volume (the volume containing the WINDOWS directory) or an ordinary volume.
When the source volume is a Windows boot volume, the files and the Windows registry are copied to the destination volume. In addition, the destination volume is configured as a Windows boot volume.
When the source volume is an ordinary volume, only its files are copied to the destination volume.
1. Start the XenConvert Wizard (for details, refer to “Starting the XenConvert Wizard”.)
2. On the Welcome to Citrix XenConvert dialog, choose the following conversion options, then click Next:
From Volume To Volume
3. Choose the source volume from the drop-down menu, then click Next.
(Optional.) Check the Empty Recycle Bin checkbox to reduce the disk space required by the conversion (enabled by default).
4. Choose the destination volume from the drop-down menu, then click Next.
26 Citrix XenConvert Guide
5. Verify that the conversion information entered is correct, then click Convert. The conversion is complete when the progress bar reaches 100%
and the Status field indicates that the conversion was successful.
6. Click Finish to exit XenConvert (this button displays after the conversion completes or after cancelling the conversion process), or click Log to display the conversion log file in Notepad.
Converting From Microsoft Virtual Server
This section describes the methods available when converting from Microsoft Virtual Server (VMC) or a Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk (VHD).
• “VMC to XVA”
• “VMC to XenServer”
• “VHD to XVA”
• “VHD to XenServer”
Before Converting From Microsoft Virtual Server
• Disable “Windows AutoPlay”
• Remove any ISO file from the virtual CD/DVD file.
• Shutdown VM.
After Converting From Microsoft Virtual Server
XenConvert will schedule the automatic removal of the Microsoft VM Additions program after the first boot of the converted workload on XenServer.
If Microsoft VM Additions was not removed automatically, then manually remove it as follows:
1. Boot the new XenServer VM.
2. Log in to an account with permission to remove a program.
3. Use Add/Remove Programs feature of Windows to remove the program named ‘Virtual Machine Additions’.
VMC to XVA
Select this method to convert a Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 VM to a XVA.
1. Start the XenConvert Wizard (for details, refer to “Starting the XenConvert Wizard”.)
Chapter 4 Using XenConvert 27
2. On the Welcome to Citrix XenConvert dialog, choose the following conversion options, then click Next:
From
Microsoft Virtual Server Virtual Machine To
Xen Virtual Appliance
3. Browse for the virtual machine to include in this conversion, then click Next.
4. Choose a folder to store the XVA in by typing or browsing for the appropriate location, then click Next.
5. Verify that the conversion information entered is correct, then click Convert. The conversion is complete when the progress bar reaches 100%
and the Status field indicates that the conversion was successful.
6. Click Finish to exit XenConvert (this button displays after the conversion completes or after cancelling the conversion process), or click Log to display the conversion log file in Notepad.
Note For each conversion run, detailed status information is stored in the log file. The log file, XenConvert.txt, is created in the installation directory and provides the following information:
• Start and stop time stamps
• Error and informational messages
VMC to XenServer
Select this method to convert a Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 VM to a XenServer VM. This conversion requires a XenServer accessible on the network and a valid account on that XenServer. The conversion creates an intermediate XVA that remains on the host.
1. Start the XenConvert Wizard (for details, refer to “Starting the XenConvert Wizard”.)
2. On the Welcome to Citrix XenConvert dialog, choose the following conversion options, then click Next:
From
Microsoft Virtual Server Virtual Machine To
28 Citrix XenConvert Guide
XenServer
3. Browse for the virtual machine to include in this conversion, then click Next.
4. Provide the following conversion information, then click Next:
Hostname
Simple host name, fully qualified domain name, or IP address of the XenServer.
User name
Name of the account with import privileges. Consult the XenServer product documentation for information on account requirements.
Password
The password that is associated with User name.
Workspace
Type or browse for the folder in which intermediate files should be stored.
For conversion efficiency, Citrix recommends specifying a location on the local computer where you are running conversion, preferably on a different partition or drive.
5. Optionally, edit the name of your new XenServer VM in the Name textbox.
6. Verify that the conversion information entered is correct, then click Convert. The conversion is complete when the progress bar reaches 100%
and the Status field indicates that the conversion was successful.
7. Click Finish to exit XenConvert (this button displays after the conversion completes or after cancelling the conversion process), or click Log to display the conversion log file in Notepad.
Note For each conversion run, detailed status information is stored in the log file. The log file, XenConvert.txt, is created in the installation directory and provides the following information:
• Start and stop time stamps
• Error and informational messages
VHD to XVA
Select this method to convert a single VHD to a XVA.
Chapter 4 Using XenConvert 29
1. Start the XenConvert Wizard (for details, refer to “Starting the XenConvert Wizard”.)
2. On the Welcome to Citrix XenConvert dialog, choose the following conversion options, then click Next:
From
Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) To
Xen Virtual Appliance
3. Browse for the VHD to include in this conversion, then click Next.
4. Choose a folder to store the XVA in by typing or browsing for the appropriate location, then click Next.
5. Optionally, edit the name of your new XenServer VM in the Name textbox.
6. Verify that the conversion information entered is correct, then click Convert. The conversion is complete when the progress bar reaches 100%
and the Status field indicates that the conversion was successful.
7. Click Finish to exit XenConvert (this button displays after the conversion completes or after cancelling the conversion process), or click Log to display the conversion log file in Notepad.
Note For each conversion run, detailed status information is stored in the log file. The log file, XenConvert.txt, is created in the installation directory and provides the following information:
• Start and stop time stamps
• Error and informational messages
VHD to XenServer
Convert a single VHD to a XenServer. This conversion requires a XenServer accessible on the network and a valid account on that XenServer. The conversion creates an intermediate XVA that remains on the host.
1. Start the XenConvert Wizard (for details, refer to “Starting the XenConvert Wizard”.)
2. On the Welcome to Citrix XenConvert dialog, choose the following conversion options, then click Next:
From
30 Citrix XenConvert Guide
Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk To
XenServer
3. Browse for the VHD to include in this conversion, then click Next.
4. Provide the following conversion information, then click Next:
Hostname
Simple host name, fully qualified domain name, or IP address of the XenServer.
User name
Name of the account with import privileges. Consult the XenServer product documentation for information on account requirements.
Password
The password that is associated with User name.
Workspace
Type or browse for the folder in which intermediate files should be stored.
For conversion efficiency, Citrix recommends specifying a location on the local computer where you are running conversion, preferably on a different partition or drive.
5. Optionally, edit the name of your new XenServer VM in the Name textbox.
5. Optionally, edit the name of your new XenServer VM in the Name textbox.