VMWare ESX image to run on VMWare workstation

Question

I've an linux image(debian) running on VMWare ESX 3.1. Is it possible to copy that image and run it locally on my local VMWare workstation? how?

Answer 1

I believe that while ESX (commercial) is reverse-compatible to Server (free), Server is NOT forward-compatible to ESX.

Therefore, you can import Server images to ESX, but not the other way around.

You may be able to go from an ESX host to an ESXi (free) host, however.

Answer 2

As far as I remember that was exactly what I did a few weeks ago. I exported the image (export facility is included in the ESX, but you'll have to power off the image while you export it). Once the image was exported I ran it through the VMware converter (free tool) and converted it to run on a workstationr/player. However my laptop always crashes when I install VMWorkstation so I run it om a VMPlayer.

Answer 3

Kasper, what version of ESX are you running? Trying to export an image from our ESX server always ends in a I/O error (don't have access to the server right now so I cannot remember the exact error message).

Would love to get this feature working but I not found anything on the web that might help with this specific error.

Answer 4

Just open up the VI client, shut down the VM, browse to the datastore and then download the image. Pretty straightforward really, I do it from ESXi 3.5 -> Workstation 6.5 all the time.

Answer 5

You can also user Vizioncore vConverter or FastSCP for your migration.