Migration from ESXi to Proxmox

Uninstall open-vm-tools/VMware Tools

rpm -qa | grep vm                              # SLES
zypper se open-vm-tools                        # SLES	 
zypper rm open-vm-tools                        # SLES	 
apt remove open-vm-tools                       # Debian	 
vmware-uninstall-tools.pl                      # Linux VMware Tools	 

https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/339581/uninstalling-open-vmware-tools-included.html

if dependencies might break system, disable open vm tools:

systemctl stop vgauthd open-vm-tools
systemctl disable vgauthd open-vm-tools
systemctl stop vgauthd vmtoolsd
systemctl disable vgauthd vmtoolsd

grep CONFIG_VIRTIO /boot/config-$(uname -r)
grep CONFIG_VIRTIO /boot/config-$(uname -r) | grep =y
lsinitrd /boot/initrd-$(uname -r) | grep virtio

vi /etc/dracut.conf.d/virtio-drivers.conf

add_drivers+=" virtio_blk virtio_scsi virtio_net virtio_pci virtio_ring virtio "

https://support.scc.suse.com/s/kb/Additional-kernel-modules-not-added-to-the-initrd-when-specified-in-etc-dracut-conf-1583239414605?language=en_US

dracut -f /boot/initrd-$(uname -r) > /tmp/dracut.log 2>&1

lsinitrd /boot/initrd-$(uname -r) | grep virtio

check available drivers

lsmod | grep virtio

force adding the drivers

dracut -f /boot/initrd-$(uname -r) --add-drivers "virtio virtio_pci virtio_blk virtio_net virtio_ring virtio_scsi"

check initial ramdisk for drivers

lsinitrd /boot/initrd-$(uname -r) | grep virtio

https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Paravirtualized_Drivers_for_Linux

check initial RAM filesystem for drivers

lsinitramfs /boot/initrd.img-$(uname -r) | grep virtio

• Uninstall open-vm-tools/VMware Tools
• Disable hardware checksum offload (pfSense: System > Advanced > Networking)
• Backup Config if firewall (pfSense/OPNsense)
  • Rename Interfaces in config to e.g. normal interface vtnet1 vlan interface vtnet1.123

• Uninstall VMware Tools

If the ESXi-GUI hangs after migrating a vm, restart management services via ssh on the ESXi-Host:

/etc/init.d/hostd restart
/etc/init.d/vpxa restart

• Set VM ID
• Set VM name
• Checkmark prepare for VirtIO-SCSI
• Set NIC to VirtIO and set Bridge
• Import

Do not boot immediately after migration. See post migration steps below.

• Set VM ID
• Set VM name
• Set SCSI Controller to VirtIO-SCSI single and disks to scsiN
• Set NIC to VirtIO and set Bridge
• Import

PS C:\Users\Administrator> Get-Service QEMU-GA

Status   Name               DisplayName
------   ----               -----------
Running  QEMU-GA            QEMU Guest Agent

qm agent <vmid> ping

• Install qemu guest agent<code>

zypper ref && zypper in qemu-guest-agent # SLES apt update && apt install qemu-guest-agent # Debian systemctl start qemu-guest-agent systemctl enable qemu-guest-agent systemctl status qemu-guest-agent </code>

• Change interface names in network configs e.g. ens192 → ens18

• Add temporary 1 GB SCSI HDD
• Add virtio iso
• Boot VM, install quemu guest agent and drivers
• Restore network configuration to adapter(s) (might only work if old one was e1000(e))<code>

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces]</code>

• Shutdown VM, reattach SATA VM disks as SCSI and remove temporary 1 GB disk
  • Set cache to writeback and enable discard
• Adjust boot order and enable qemu guest agent in vm options
• Boot VM, check diskmanager for offline secondary disks, Reboot

If vm is a network license server, boot without network connection and check licensing status