How to Virtualize a Server: Step-by-Step (Part 2)


Virtualizing the server running your business will allow you to back up the existing state of your server entirely, upgrade to new server hardware, and move your existing system exactly as it is -- this will keep your business running as smoothly as before you virtualized your server.



Step 21: Prepare to Virtualize

Step 21: Prepare to Virtualize

Follow the steps in Part 1, 2, and 3 of How to Virtualize a Server to set up a test environment for your physical Windows server as a virtualized server using VMware Converter (free) and VMware Infrastructure 3 (free 60-day evaluation). By virtualizing your server in a test environment, you'll have an opportunity to evaluate how it fits your needs before putting it on your business network. Go to Step 1 of How to Virtualize a Server.

In Step 20 of How to Virtualize a Server, you completed your install of ESX Server 3.5. Now, after rebooting, you can convert your Windows server to a virtual machine.

Before disconnecting your server from your network and the Internet, download VMware Converter to the server you will virtualize. Then, move the server to the test network with the ESX server and change the network settings as appropriate (see Step 15 of How to Virtualize a Server).

Skip ahead to Part 3 of How to Virtualize a Server

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