Enabling Logging in to Helper Virtual Machine During Conversion of Powered-On Linux Sources with Converter Standalone

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

By default, Linux P2V prevents logging in to the helper virtual machine. If the useSourcePasswordInHelperVm flag is enabled in the converter-worker.xml file, the helper virtual machine's console is able to be logged into using root as the user name, and the password of the source Linux machine.

Access to the helper virtual machine is particularly helpful for troubleshooting issues during conversion. For example, the inaccessibility of the helper virtual machine may prevent users from obtaining logs in case of a conversion failure.

Environment

VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 

Resolution

Enable the useSourcePasswordInHelperVm flag in the converter-worker.xml file.

To enable the useSourcePasswordInHelperVm flag:

1. Browse for the converter-worker.xml file.
   
   Note: By default, the converter-worker.xml file is located at:
   
   • Windows 7 and 2008 Server – C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware vCenter Converter Standalone
   • Windows Vista, XP and 2003 Server – %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\VMware\VMware vCenter Converter Standalone
   • In older Windows versions – %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\VMware\VMware vCenter Converter Standalone
2. Open the converter-worker.xml file in a text editor and change the useSourcePasswordInHelperVm flag from false to true.
3. Change the powerOffHelperVm flag from true to false .
4. Save and close the converter-worker.xml file.
5. Restart Converter Standalone Worker service.
   • Open the Services section in the Microsoft Management Console, find the VMware Converter Worker service and restart it.
   • Alternatively, instead of restarting Converter Standalone worker, reboot the system to make the changes to converter-worker.xml take effect.

Enabling the useSourcePasswordInHelperVmflag is useful when the powerOffHelperVm Converter worker flag is disabled . It allows the ability to log in to the helper virtual machine after conversion.