Virtualization of Old Systems Websites & New Media Server

Well this weekend I made great progress I built a test media server, virtualized a few old physical web servers, as well as my old but powerful XP desktop with 5 SCSI drives I just retired. I have been trying different methods with varied success depending on OS. I am still getting my preferred steps down but I have made progress in all of the various methods.

1. I have used Clonezilla & Xenserver combination:

   1. Create an image to an NFS share on my NAS using Clonezilla Live CD to boot networked Linux webserver

   2. Boot Clonezilla ISO using XenServer’s NFS ISO library

   3. Restore Clonezilla image from NFS NAS

   4. Boot Rescue Disk and rebuild initrd

   5. Install Xenserver Tools

2. Used Vmware to Vmconvert Linux Webserver

   1. Boot Rescue Disk and rebuild initrd

   2. Install Vmware Tools

      1. Then export template to desktop

      2. Import template into XenServer

3. Use XenConvert to clone XP system (not much luck), created VHD disk for C: and quit.

4. Use Vmware 5.5 Converter to clone XP Desktop system with 5 local SCSI drives kept failing until I deselected last drive.

   1. Crashed VMware ESXi hosts twice. I had upgraded to 5.5 this weekend on that ESXi server. I still need to troubleshoot what happened.

5. Also tried using Xenconvert on Linux systems using CD but I think with 6.2 it may not be possible.

I think in the future using “DD” and NFS with Xensever may also be an option, maybe even the best option for Linux systems but that’s for a bit later.

This whole exercise just got interrupted as the power on my 20 amp dedicated circuit got overwhelmed and took down my 2 custom built NAS devices running FreeNAS, along with my virtual environments of XenServer& Vmware, and internet radio staion. I will have to remedy that need for another dedicated 20 amp circuits and not wait any longer to take care of that issue! I had to run outside and reset the circuit breaker.

Anyway more details later and maybe I will have time to fully document the procedures along with some other items. I can now comfortably start allocating this hardware to other uses like media servers or pass them along to those who need systems with new desktop OS’ of course.

Looks like I still have a lot of work to do to get UPS and network wiring redone with new equipment along with redoing my websites. Looks like I will totally be moving to Drupal away from Movable Type. Stay tuned!