Workstation VM unable to start after import on ESXi

Question

I've been given a folder of a VM (with .vmdk, .vmx, ...), created and used in VMWare Workstation. I want to use it on my VMWare ESXi.

How do I correctly import the VM?

I've tried to import it, by copying the folder to the ESXi datastore, then Create/Register VM, Register an existing virtual machine and finally choose the .vmx file of the copied folder.

The adding of the VM appears to work just fine, but when I try to start it, ESXi states:

Failed to open disk scsi0:0: Unsupported or invalid disk type 7. Ensure that the disk has been imported.
Unable to create virtual SCSI device for scsi0:0, '/<disk-store>/import/<the-workstation-folder>/<target-vm>.vmdk'
Module DevicePowerOn power on failed.
Failed to start the virtual machine.

In the settings of the new ESXI VM, I see that the path is correct and the virtual disk file is really in that location.

Is there another way to import the VM? Do I have to modify the disk settings on the ESXi?

I have no access to VMWare Workstation, where the VM was originally created/used.

@Chopper3 See the question, I've been given the folder only and I don't have access to the Workstation, where the VM was originally created/used. — SaAtomic, Jun 16 '17 at 08:27
@Chopper3 no, not really. A viable solution has been posted by Gerald Schneider, as you can see below. — SaAtomic, Jun 16 '17 at 12:13

score 4 · Answer 1 · edited Jun 11 '20 at 10:02

4

As another option, you can use StarWind V2V that also converts VMware Workstation VM image to ESXi one.

edited Jun 11 '20 at 10:02

Community

1

answered Jun 20 '17 at 07:58

Mr. Raspberry

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score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 16 '17 at 08:24

3

VMware Workstation VMs are not compatible to ESXi. VMware Workstation uses different virtual hardware than ESXi.

The easiest way is to convert the VM using VMware Converter.

answered Jun 16 '17 at 08:24

Gerald Schneider

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Workstation VM unable to start after import on ESXi

2 Answers2