Physical server to virtual server conversion using VirtualCenter Converter plugin fails

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Unable to convert a physical server to virtual server using VirtualCenter Converter plugin
• Converting a physical server to virtual server using VirtualCenter Converter plugin fails
• You see the error:
  
  FAILED: Unable to obtain the IP address of the helper virtual machine

Environment

VMware VirtualCenter 2.5.x
VMware ESX 4.0.x
VMware ESX Server 3.5.x
VMware VirtualCenter 2.0.x

Resolution

To convert a physical server to virtual server, the helper virtual machine needs the IP address of the physical server and attempts to get the address via DHCP. This issue occurs if there are no DHCP servers on the physical server's network or if the ports used by Converter are blocked.

To resolve this issue:

1. Ensure that a DHCP server is running on the physical server's network.
2. Provide a static IP address during the conversion process. In the Conversion wizard, choose to modify the network settings to input a static IP.
3. Ensure that the ports required for the conversion process are open between the physical server and ESX hosts/VirtualCenter. For more information, see Required VMware vCenter Converter ports (1010056).

Additional Information

使用 VirtualCenter Converter 插件将物理服务器转换为虚拟服务器失败
VirtualCenter Converter プラグインを使用した物理サーバから仮想サーバへの変換に失敗する