Virtualizing a Windows Computer - Getting Started

Getting Started Advanced Best Practices FAQ Troubleshooting

You can convert a client computer into a virtual machine (VM). Perform the following to convert a client computer into a VM:

  1. Verify the Prerequisites
  2. Setup 1-Touch Server
  3. Setup the Client
  4. Create the Boot CD Image
  5. Setup the ESX Server
  6. Create an Instance in Virtual Server iDataAgent
  7. Virtualize the Client

Verify the Prerequisites

What Can Be Virtualized

What Cannot Be Virtualized
Any client that satisfies the System Requirements for 1-Touch client. Any client that has Windows XP operating system.

Any client which has firewall setup between the client computer and the CommServe.

Any client which has Windows operating system installed on a disk other than the first disk.

Any client which has Windows operating system installed on a drive other than the C drive.

Any client computer that can boot from SAN or SAN attached disks.

Install and Setup Virtual Server iDataAgent

Ensure that the Virtual Server iDataAgent is installed on atleast one client computer in the CommCell. For more information, refer to Getting Started - VMware Deployment.

Setup 1-Touch Server

Follow the steps given below to setup a 1-Touch server:

  1. Install the 1-Touch Server software using the Calypso Installer Version released with Service Pack 4 (or higher). For more information, refer to Deployment - 1-Touch for Windows.

    If the 1-Touch server has an older version of the 1-Touch server software, perform the following:

    1-Touch Server software is available on the Disc 2. For more information, refer to Software Installation Discs.

  2. Configure remote server cache on the 1-Touch server. For more information, refer Configure a Remote Cache for 1-Touch Server.
  3. Download all the software updates for 1-Touch Server software, Windows File System iDataAgent and WinPE. For more information, refer Download and Install Updates on 1-Touch Server.
  4. Apply Updates to Live CD image. For more information, refer Apply updates in 1-Touch Server Cache to 1-Touch Live CD image.

Set up the Client

Install Windows File System iDataAgent

Install the Windows File System iDataAgent using the Calypso Installer Version released with Service Pack 4 (or higher). For more information, refer to Getting Started - Windows File System Deployment.

Enable System State Backup

1.
  • From the CommCell Console, navigate to <Client> | File System iDataAgent | defaultBackupSet.
  • Right-click the default subclient, and click Properties.

    You must enable the system state backup for the default subclient in the default backupset.
2.
  • Click the General tab.
  • Ensure that Use VSS for System State check box is selected.
3.
  • Click the Content tab.
  • Ensure that the Backup System State check box is selected.

Perform a Backup

  If you are performing backup of a Windows 7 client, ensure that the Administrator account is enabled. You cannot perform the virtualization of the client if administrator account is not enabled while performing the backup.
1.
  • From the CommCell Console, navigate to <Client> | File System iDataAgent | defaultBackupSet.
  • Right-click the default subclient, and click Backup.
2.
  • Select Full.
  • Select Immediate.
  • Click OK.

    Before virtualizing a client computer, ensure that you have successfully completed at least one full backup of the default subclient.

Create the Boot CD Image

1. Login to computer which has 1-Touch Server software installed on it.  
2. Click Start | Programs |Bull Calypso | Calypso | 1-Touch.  
3. Click 1-Touch Boot CD Wizard.
4. Click Next.
5. Select the processor type from the list.

The processor type must match with the processor of the computer which you want to convert into a VM.

For example: If you want to virtualize a windows computer which has x64 version of operating system, you must select x64 as the processor type.

6. Click Next.
7. Click Next.
8.
  • Enter the location to save the Boot CD image as an .iso file.
  • Click Done.
  • Verify that the Boot CD image is created at he specified location.

Setup the ESX Server

  1. Verify the connectivity between the CommServe and the vCenter in which you want to create the VM
  2. Copy the boot CD Image to any datastore on the ESX server in which you want to create the VM.

Create an Instance in the Virtual Server iDataAgent

 Follow the steps given below to create an instance for a vCenter in which you want to create the VM:

1.
  • From the CommCell Browser, navigate to <Client> | Virtual Server.
  • Right-click the Virtual Server | All Tasks and click Create New Instance.
2.
  • Enter the Instance Name.
  • Select VMware from Vendor Type menu.
3.
  • Click Virtual Center.
  • Enter the host name of the vCenter.
  • Click Configure Password.
  • Enter the username and password associated with the Virtual Center.
  • Click OK to save the instance.
4.
  • From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client>.
  • Right-click the Virtual Server and select All Tasks | Refresh Datacenters.

    It could take several minutes for a newly created instance to appear in the list of instances.

    Once you create the instance, the information about the ESX sever, vCenter and the Data Store is pre-populated in the Virtualize Me dialog box.

 Virtualize the Client

Follow the steps given below to convert a client computer into a VM:

1. Turn off the client computer.  
2.
  • From the CommCell Console, navigate to Client Computers.
  • Right-click the <Client> and select All Tasks | Virtualize Me.
3.
  •  Select a vCenter from the vCenter list.
  • Click the ... button and browse to select an ESX Server and a Data Store.
  • Click the ... button for the ISO Path box and browse to the location of the Boot CD image on the ESX Server.

    If you want to change the hardware configuration, click Advanced. For more information, refer to Advanced section of this documentation.

  • Click OK.

The virtual machine will be created in the specified ESX server.

4. You can track the progress of the Virtualization job from the Job Controller window of the CommCell Console. The following three jobs are launched during the virtualization operation:
  • Virtualize Machine
  • 1-Touch Configuration Restore
  • Full System Restore

    You can not suspend or kill the Virtualize Machine job when the other two jobs are running.
5. Once the job is complete, view the job details from the Admin Job History. From the CommCell Browser, right-click <CommServe> and select View | Admin Job History.
6.
  • Select Virtualize Me under Job Type.
  • Click OK.
 
7. You can view the following options about the job by right-clicking the job:
  • Details of the job
  • Events of the job
  • Log files of the job
  • Resubmit the job to run it again

Congratulations - You have successfully Converted a client computer into a Virtual Machine.

If you want to further explore additional features read the Advanced section of this documentation.