"Operating System not found" in virtual machine converted from a powered on Linux machine

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• The conversion task stuck at 1% with the following messages observed in Log Highlights:

Waiting for the destination virtual machine to boot up as the Converter helper server

Connecting the Converter helper ISO image to the destination virtual machine

Powering the destination virtual machine to run as the Converter helper server

Task: Convert physical machine

• In the vCenter console of the converted virtual machine it prompts below messages:

Operating System not found

Environment

VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 6.6

Cause

The vCenter Converter Standalone will attach a called helper ISO image to destination virtual machine. In this scenario the helper ISO image is not attached properly to the to the destination.

Resolution

To workaround the issue:

1. Copy converter-helper-vm.iso from "C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware vCenter Converter Standalone\converter-helper-vm.iso" in the machine where vCenter Converter installed to a datastore where the destination virtual machine stored.
2. Update the helper ISO image path in the converter-worker.xml with the steps in KB When Converter Server is deployed far from the destination ESXi attaching the converter helper as an ISO image might fail
3. Convert the powered on Linux machine again that should be successfully.