Before using XenConvert on a physical source machine, there are a couple preparations:
- Enable Windows Automount on Windows Server operating systems
- Disable Windows Autoplay
- Remove any virtualization software
- Verify adequate free space exists on the destination
- Remove any network interface team
Windows Automount
Use the MOUNTVOL /E command in a cmd window to enable Windows Automount
Disable Windows Autoplay
This article describes disabling Windows Autoplay (Autorun): http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967715
On Windows Server 2003 change this registry key value to FF:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionpoliciesExplorerNoDriveTypeAutorunOn one server, the key didn’t exist. I ignored disabling autoplay on that server and the export worked out anyway.
Remove Any Virtualization Software and Verify Adequate Space
These are obvious, uninstall VMWare, VirtualPC, VirtualBox, etc. Find a spot to drop the OVF or VHD package.
Remove Any Network Interface Team
We weren’t doing anything fancy with our interfaces, so I ignored this. I figure if you are using a Network Interface Team, you would know it. Feel free to shoot me a comment on this if you have any insight.