How to convert a physical server to a Citrix Xen virtual server (P2V)

Posted by Aseem on Thursday, April 23rd 2009   
23
Apr

The Citrix Xen Server is a free enterprise-class server virtualization solution that is a direct competitor to VMware ESXi. Both are free and it’s actually quite hard to tell which one is better.

Some people swear by VMware because of longer experience with virtualization technology while others say that Citrix has a better product. I’m not really sure, but in this post I’m going to talk about one feature that the VMware product does very well: converting a physical server into virtual server.

It’s pretty much the easiest thing in the world to virtualize a physical server using VMware, but a bit more involved using Citrix Xen. Actually, it’s not a difficult process, it’s just not as easy to find for some strange reason, than the tool for VMware.

Note: There are two tools for physical to virtual conversion (P2V) when working with Xen, either Linux to Xen or Windows to Xen.

Move Windows server to XenServer Host

To import a Windows machine, you will need the XenConvert tool, which comes in 32-bit and 64-bit flavors. You can use this tool to perform the following type of conversion:

Convert a single VHD or an entire virtual machine to a XVA or XenServer (VHD to XVA)

So where do you find the XenConvert tool? Well, it’s not exactly in the most conspicuous place known to man. In order to download it, you have to log into MyCitrix and then click on Downloads and finally click on XenServer 5.

When you click on XenServer 5, you will see a link in the Helpful Resources section to XenConvert for 32-bit and 64-bit. Kind of a pain and not really sure why they don’t have it on the main site since it’s a free download!

physical to virtual xen server

Move Linux server to XenServer Host

In order to P2V a Linux server to a XenServer host, you need to reboot the machine you want to convert and boot from the XenServer Installation CD.

When you see the Welcome to XenServer screen, select OK and the installer will do some hardware detection, etc. After that, you will get four choices, one of them being

Convert an existing OS on this machine to a VM (P2V)

linux to xen server

And that’s it! Follow the rest of the prompts and the server will be virtualized. After it is complete, you will need to attach a VIF in order to have external network connectivity.

If you are having issues converting either a Windows or Linux server to XenServer, post a comment and I’ll try to help out! Enjoy!

Filed under: Virtualization

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8 Comments Already

commenter
FG Said,
April 24th, 2009 @9:04 am  

Hey,

Does this also work if I want to convert a normal Win XP Pro System into a VMWare image?

Thx

commenter
PMueller Said,
June 15th, 2009 @11:10 am  

Hi,

when starting a P2V from a Debian Etch Server (Skolelinux 3.0r1), i always get an error, that this machine could not be converted. The Citrix Xenserver Forum says, that their tools do not support Debian!
Is there another way or tool to P2V a Debian?

Thanks

Peter

commenter
frankpr Said,
June 29th, 2009 @3:41 am  

Hi Asseem,

I’m a newbee with Citrix Xenserver. I tried to convert a Debian Sarge 3.1 Server (old hardware) with the convert tool (tried 5.0 and 5.5)

During boot from the CD-with convert tool, I see that several .img files are loaded from cd
Than a very short message that contains 2 of blocks of numbers a blank screen and then the server reboots.

I suspect that the old HP hardware causes this problem but I’m not sure, because I don’t see messages or logs.

Hardware details server:
HP LC3
Pentium II 450Mhz
256Mb ram
Phoenix bios 4.0618
Netserver Man Contr a05.04
Adatec AIC 7880 SCSI Bios V131s2
HP Netraid adapter Bios version A04.01. OCT 98
AMI BIOS
ext 3 FS

Hopefully you can give me a Tip or something.

Thanks in advance!

Frank

commenter
laneystroup Said,
July 20th, 2009 @6:53 pm  

Hi Aseem,

I am looking at this feature as a potential solution to remotely regaining control over a Windows 2008 server that is experiencing network connectivity issues. I have been testing the idea locally, to see if XenServer can “undercut” a windows installation and convert it to a virtual machine all in one, but I am having trouble at the conversion stage. The prompt asks me to enter the host, username, and password for the XenServer that I want to move the virtual machine to-be to. Does this mean that I have to have another XenServer already setup for the Virtual Machine? In other words, can XenServer undercut a Windows Server 2008 installation and convert it to a virtual machine on top of itself all within the installation process?

Thanks,
Laney

commenter
Jesse Sykes Said,
October 14th, 2009 @9:54 am  

laney,

When you open XenConvert you will notice the options to and from. You would choose the first option which would be “This machine (server 2008 machine)” , and what you’re converting it to, choose the Xen Virtual Appliance, instead of the first choice. This will allow you to choose a destination to store the converted file(s) which will output a “ova.xml” file, and a folder called “hda” containing chunk.gz tar files.

Once this process is complete you can open XenCenter and go to import a VM, click browse and when the window opens, in the “Files of Type” drop down menu choose “Xen Virtual Appliance Version 1 (ova.xml)”. This will allow you to browse to that “ova.xml” file XenConvert created and will import your machine (hypothetically). They don’t tell you that XenConvert only makes XVA Version 1 files, not Version 2 which would be VM.XVA . Hope this helps!

commenter
manju Said,
January 8th, 2010 @10:22 am  

Hi,

Taken a project on setting up Xenserver on Presently working windows 2003 with Active Directory and Domain controller.
also has microsoft vm installed for server and terminal clients licensing.

Could you guide me how to setup Xenserver and Virtualize windows 2003 with active directory system along with Microsoft VM. Also planning to deploy additional vms Ubuntu Server, Zimbra Mail Server. My hardware platform is DELL R710 Raid 5 with 16GB Memory, 300GB HDD.

Thanks in advance.

Manju

commenter
Aliuton Said,
February 18th, 2010 @8:59 am  

Hi. I´m trying transform a windows physical machine in a virtual machine using the XenConvert program, but in the medium of instalation appear this error message for me: “the specified storage repository has insufficient space”. My storage have 130Gb of open space and my VM have 18Gb. What i have doing to resolve this problem? I´m from brasil and excuse me for my bad english! :P

commenter
zorrek@yahoo.com.au Said,
May 1st, 2010 @3:46 pm  

This does not seem to work if the Linux server is installed on an mdadm raid.

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