VMware VCENTER CONVERTER EN-000158-02 - Manual (Page 12)

Table 1-2. Hot and Cold Cloning Comparison (Continued)
Comparison Criteria
Hot Cloning with Converter
Standalone 4.0.1 Cold Cloning with Converter
Enterprise 3.0.x
Advantages n Does not require direct access to
the source machine.
n You can clone the source machine
while it is running.
n Creates the most consistent copy of
the source machine.
n Leaves no data on the source
machine.
Disadvantages n On source systems running MS
Windows 2000, you must install a
special driver and reboot the
system once.
n Applications that constantly
modify files need to be VSS aware
to allow you to create a consistent
snapshot for cloning.
n Dynamic source disks are read but
not preserved during volume-
based conversions. Dynamic disks
are converted into basic volumes
on the target virtual machine.
n You must restart the source
machine to clone it.
n Requires physical access to the
source machine.
n Hardware detection and
configuration of Boot CD.
n Converter Standalone 4.0.1 features
are not supported.
Use n Clones running source machines
without shutting them down.
n Use when you have unique
hardware that the boot CD does
not recognize.
n To clone a system that Converter
Standalone does not support.
n To preserve the exact disk layout in
the target.
n To preserve logical volumes in
dynamic disks (Windows) or LVM
(Linux).
Do not use When you do not want anything to be
installed on the source system.
n When you want Linux P2V with
automatic reconfiguration.
n When you do not have physical
access to the source machine.
n When you cannot afford a long
downtime of the source system.
n To perform P2V Motion.
Prepare for Cold Cloning
Because VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 4.0.1 does not support cold cloning, you must use an earlier
Converter edition boot CD. The features supported on the boot CD depend on the product version you choose.
VMware Converter 3.0.x Enterprise edition is not a free software product.
Procedure
1 To obtain a boot CD, go to the VMware Download Web site and download Converter 3.0.x Enterprise
installation.
2 Extract the boot CD
.iso
file from the installation package.
3 Burn the boot CD .iso file on a CD.
What to do next
Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with cold cloning.
User's Guide
12 VMware, Inc.