How To Import Vms

How to Import Export Virtual Machines
Objectives:
* To import a Running/Not Running Virtual Machine to a local hardrive.
Usages:
* To import production environment to your lab.
* Toreduce Virtual machine used space
* To change between different versions of vmware vmachines
* To import virtual machines from other vendors.
* To virtualize a physical environment.* Some other usages
Prerequisites
* Previous Knowledge in VMWare, VCenter
Required software:
* VMware vCenter Converter
You can freely download the product here:http://www.vmware.com/products/converter/

Introduction
If you are used to create/import export virtual environments the usually solution is to browse for the datastore of the VM and copy the VM’s files from itslocation to a backup device.
This solution besides pedestrian. Requires that the vm is stopped all the time the backup takes and takes as much space as the vmfiles involved.

With the converter youcan import/export devices and in certain situations you can copy or import even running virtual machines
The conversion process takes a less disk space and less time to complete.

ActionsDownload and Install product. (this works only on windows)

Once installed the product would look like the figure 1

Start a new task pressing Convert Machine

Select Source type and credentials.For entering to the machine in the figure you could see the connecton to an ESXi 4.1 infrastructure.

Once authenticated you will be presented with a list of Virtual Machines select the one toexport and press next

Select the name and destination of the Virtual Machine as shown in the picture

Select the export options and if desired reconfigure as needed.

Finally the options summarypressing Finish will submit the Job Conversion ..
You may submit various virtual machines conversions at the same time but that may end in a resource shortage please review the max concurrent...