VMWare VCenter convert standalone 5.5.3 (oct. 2014) still fails when converting ubuntu server 14.04 when job was at 97%. (UPDATED 2022-08-26
I just got the same problem when I tried to convert ubuntu 20.04 with converter 6.2.0.1. I don't think there are more recent versions.
Problem is still the same: converter cannot make last operation after it converted the machine: create a primary partition with Grub installed.
This time to fix the problem I used the "ISO Boot Repair Disk".
In short I mounted the ISO and boot the VM. After boot The first tool starts automatically and analyzes your system and tries to fix it. I got the warning "Create a primary partition not formatted with flag grub using GPARTED",
GParted is available in the start menu of ISO Boot Repair Disk.
STEPS
- resized the partiion to get a free space of around 5MB
- created the primary partion not formatted
- applied the flag grub
- return in the first utility to check your system again and in my case the tool installed grup succesfully.
- Unmount the ISO and Restarted my ubuntu 20.04 worked fine!
I think I will write a new article with some screenshot,
This not a tutorial, just a couple of notes taken when I solved the case.
ERROR
FAILED: An error occurred during the conversion: 'GrubInstaller::InstallGrub: /usr/lib/vmware-converter/installGrub.sh failed with return code: 127, and message: Installing GRUB1 on (hd0)... /vmware-updateGrub.sh: line 52: grub: command not found Error installing GRUB Command: grub --no-floppy --batch --device-map="/vmware-device.map" root (hd0,0) setup (hd0) Error running vmware-updateGrub.sh through chroot into /mnt/p2v-src-root /usr/lib/vmware-converter/installGrub.sh: line 143: /mnt/p2v-src-root: Is a directory
SCENARIO
The virtual machine was converted, the only issue regarding the boot: converter cannot manage grub properly.
/DEV on Phisical Machine
/dev/sda1 => grub
/dev/sda2 => ext4
/dev/sda3 => swap
/DEV on Virtual Machine
/dev/sda1 => ext4
/dev/sda2 => swap
As you can see grub partition was not created and now sda1 is the data partition and sda2 the swap partition.
The /etc/fstab and /boot/grub/grub.cfg contain the original configuration.
STEPS
In order to fix the server (virtual machine) we have to make some simple operations
- Make a recovery boot using the iso image cd of ubuntu server 14.04
- Create a primary partition for grub
- Install grub
- Change the /etc/fstab
- Change the /boot/grub/grub.cfg
BOOT
Edit your virtual machine and connect the device cd/dvd to the ubuntu 14.04 iso image
Power on the virtual machine, choice recovery / rescue mode, follow the steps until you can get a terminal prompt on /dev/sda1
PARTITION
# parted /dev/sda
(parted) unit MB
(parted) p free
Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
0.02MB 0.07MB 0.05MB Free Space
2 0.07MB 7516MB 7516MB ext4 Linux Filesystem Data
3 7516MB 8052MB 536MB linux-swap(v1) Linux Swap
8052MB 11273MB 3221MB Free Space
(parted) mkpart primary xx yy
(parted) p
(parted) set x bios_grub on
(parted) p free
Partition Table: gpt
Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
3 0.02MB 0.07MB 0.05MB primary bios_grub
1 0.07MB 7516MB 7516MB ext4 Linux Filesystem Data
2 7516MB 8052MB 536MB linux-swap(v1) Linux Swap
8052MB 11273MB 3221MB Free Space
(parted) q
SUGGEST - GDISK
if you have installed the gdisk tool, you could sort the part number.
So FSTAB and GRUB.CFG edit would be not necessary.
I suggest to install gdisk on phisical server before launch the convert: apt-get install gdisk
# gdisk /dev/sda
Command (? for help): s
Command (? for help): w
FSTAB
fstab file still contains the phisical machine information
/dev/sda2 / ext4 errors=remount-ro,relatime,usrjquota=quota.user,grpjquota=quota.group,jqfmt=vfsv0 0 1 /dev/sda3 swap swap defaults 0 0
We have to change sda2 with sda1 and sda3 with sda2
# nano /etc/fstab
GRUB.CFG
Before edit the /boot/grub/grub.cfg we need to know the UUID of the Phisical Machine and the new UUID of the Virtual Machine.
# blkid on phisical machine
# blkid on virtual machine
Suggest
blkid >> /boot/grub/grub.cfg
We have to replace sda2 with sda1 and the old UUID with the new one
# nano /boot/grub/grub.cfg
Nano command to replace a string is Ctrl + \
After saving the grub.cfg we have to install the grub, from the prompt # type exit, will appear the ubuntu menu from installation cd.
GRUB INSTALL
Now we have a new partition set as bootable and we already change the fstab and grub.cfg. we are ready to install the grub.
From the installation CD we can choice "Install grub on /deb/sda"
LAST STEP
reboot
[OT] Let me write some useful commands here
HOW TO CHANGE IP, GATEWAY AND DNS
# nano /etc/network/interfaces
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
address 192.168.0.150
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 192.168.0.1
network 192.168.0.0
broadcast 192.168.0.255
dns-nameservers 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4
RECONFIGURE THE KEYBOARD
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration
REFERENCES
- have fun -
