Check it out, download an ISO or hit "update", and enjoy!
I was able to hit update from the GUI and it was a seamless upgrade. I
do like the addition of VMWare migration tools and the ability to create an unattended install ISO. I work with lots of remote offices, and if I could send someone servers, tell them what to plug in where, and to boot off an ISO, that would rock.
I was able to hit update from the GUI and it was a seamless upgrade. I
do like the addition of VMWare migration tools and the ability to create an unattended install ISO. I work with lots of remote offices, and if I could send someone servers, tell them what to plug in where, and to boot off an ISO, that would rock.
Proxmox VE 8.2
Released 24. April 2024: See Downloads
When you wrote this and I read it, I putzed around on the VMWare site and realized there's no download link for the free version any more. I had heard about the restructure and whatever they're doing with their "portfolio", but figured they would just stop making it 'free'. The fact they don't even have a download link for previous versions (or even the latest version that was released ~6 months ago) any more, it might be time to look for a better solution.
Check it out, download an ISO or hit "update", and enjoy!
I was able to hit update from the GUI and it was a seamless upgrade. I
do like the addition of VMWare migration tools and the ability to create
I was able to hit update from the GUI and it was a seamless upgrade. do like the addition of VMWare migration tools and the ability to cre an unattended install ISO. I work with lots of remote offices, and if could send someone servers, tell them what to plug in where, and to b off an ISO, that would rock.
Proxmox VE 8.2
Released 24. April 2024: See Downloads
If one were to want to switch from VMWare ESXi 6.5 to Proxmox at some point, what is the easiest and best way to backup/save/export your
VMWare VMs to be easily imported into Proxmox without losing any data?
I read up on Proxmox's new import utility, but they seem to be describing having both hypervisor instances running at the same time. Proxmox would be replacing VMWare on the same machine, so the .vmdk (or whatever)
files would have to be saved to disk and restored once Proxmox is installed.
When you wrote this and I read it, I putzed around on the VMWare site and realized there's no download link for the free version any more. I had heard about the restructure and whatever they're doing with their "portfolio", but figured they would just stop making it 'free'. The fact they don't even have a download link for previous versions (or even the latest version that was released ~6 months ago) any more, it might be
time to look for a better solution.
When you wrote this and I read it, I putzed around on the VMWare site and
realized there's no download link for the free version any more. I had heard
about the restructure and whatever they're doing with their "portfolio", but
figured they would just stop making it 'free'. The fact they don't even have
a download link for previous versions (or even the latest version that was
released ~6 months ago) any more, it might be time to look for a better
solution.
So I came across this:
https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2107518
It is a shame, I'm a huge fan of ESXi, and pretty much install it on everything I have (including Pis) as all my machines are headless - and
the web console makes it super easy to use.
I did manage to download v8 today - I just signed up for the eval and it let me. I actually dont need to install it, and may never use it. I
guess at some point I'll have to make the switch and learn proxmox...
i did this almost a year ago because the weiting was on thr wall. That
and the fact it was mentioned multiple times.
I ended up just using clonzilla. I did it between two machines live. But with this new option it appears much easier.
Not sure how you would so it? Got a spare machine you could load proxmox
up under virtual box and migrate that way. Then wipe your server,
install proxmox and move your VM's to your new server.
Isn't the eval only actually good for like 30 days? Either way, I see the direction they're going, and won't be following along. Proxmox has come a very long way, and is just as configurable - especially just for a household server.
I've only had to install it once, back in 2017. This server has been running nonstop since then and have never had a single issue with it.
I was able to hit update from the GUI and it was a seamless upgrade. I
do like the addition of VMWare migration tools and the ability to create an unattended install ISO. I work with lots of remote offices, and if I could send someone servers, tell them what to plug in where, and to boot off an ISO, that would rock.
Check it out, download an ISO or hit "update", and enjoy!
If one were to want to switch from VMWare ESXi 6.5 to Proxmox at some point, what is the easiest and best way to backup/save/export your VMWare VMs to be easily imported into Proxmox without losing any data?
Isn't the eval only actually good for like 30 days? Either way, I see the direction they're going, and won't be following along. Proxmox has come
a very long way, and is just as configurable - especially just for a household server.
I have another machine, but I was just trying to find out the least
amount of hassle. There's no way to export to a .vmdk or something and load it back up in Proxmox?
Isn't the eval only actually good for like 30 days? Either way, I see the
direction they're going, and won't be following along. Proxmox has come a
very long way, and is just as configurable - especially just for a household
server.
The eval used to run for 60 days (maybe 30 now?), and after that revert
to "free" - which mean all the enterprise functions where disabled.
With their v8 not sure what it will do after the eval period. Might try
one day to see...
I'm the same - I've been using it for 10+ years, and I update to a new version when I've bought a new server. I'm pretty much on v7 and have
been for years, and it doesnt miss a beat.
You can use clonezilla to clone the ESX guest, then restore it using clonezilla on a Proxmox guest.
There's a VMWare tool called ovftool that can create a data file that Proxmox can ingest.
There's lots of information at https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Migrate_to_Proxmox_VE#Clone_directly
I was also a die hard Vmware user and ran it for 10+ years at home.
Proxmox has proved to be very stable.
When you switched, did you just start out clean slate? Or did you clone/migrate any VMs over?
Check it out, download an ISO or hit "update", and enjoy!That's great, I guess I will be doing so updating this weekend.
When you switched, did you just start out clean slate? Or did you
clone/migrate any VMs over?
I used Clonezilla.
Right, I got that part. However, you had two physical machines - one with VMWare and one with Proxmox already installed, and did it the "live"
way, yes?
The eval used to run for 60 days (maybe 30 now?), and after that revert
to "free" - which mean all the enterprise functions where disabled.
(You could google around and easily find a key though that turned that
back on.)
With their v8 not sure what it will do after the eval period. Might try
one day to see...
Right, I got that part. However, you had two physical machines - one with
VMWare and one with Proxmox already installed, and did it the "live"
way, yes?
Correct.
All good, my 6.5u1 is still going strong. If one day I have to start
over, I'll most likely switch to Proxmox.
So, you are saying I could install Virtualbox on my Windows 11 gaming machine, Install Proxmox in a VM, and use it's new live-import thing to move my VMs over to Proxmox.
Then, install Proxmox on the real hardware where ESXi was, and import
them back using the same utility?
If so, that doesn't seem too bad at all.
All good, my 6.5u1 is still going strong. If one day I have to start over, I'll most likely switch to Proxmox.
"For ESXi hosts, license or evaluation period expiry leads to disconnection from vCenter Server. All powered on virtual machines continue to work, but you cannot power on virtual machines after they are powered off. You cannot change the current configuration of the features that are in use. You cannot use the features that remained unused before the license expiration."
Good point, no need to move to the latest and greatest if there is no
gain. We are talking home labs here.
What I do like about Proxmox is the supported hardware availability
across consumer grade hardware.
This may be the route I take in the future. Moving off server grade hardware into consumer grade.
Would save some money on hardware. I don't need anything crazy. I was thinking of a small NUC with 16 cores, a couple M2 drives would be more then suffice.
Just my thoughts at the moment. I still have plenty of life out of what
I have today. My old server was converted into a desktop for my son and it's still running solid after 8-9 years....
I'm going to wait until this server is at least 5+ years before even considering it. Even at that, I may not even bother if things are
running strong and it's meeting my needs. Likely will since I mainly run linux VM's without any gui. Very little resources.
Pretty much, yes. I had my VM's imported via a NAS NFS share. So I
pointed my new server to the same NFS share and just imported that way.
It may be slightly different for you, but this is the theory and the one
I used.
All good, my 6.5u1 is still going strong. If one day I have to start over,
I'll most likely switch to Proxmox.
Still running Vmware Exsi 6.0 here for .... geez, close to a decade I think.
"For ESXi hosts, license or evaluation period expiry leads to disconnection
from vCenter Server. All powered on virtual machines continue to work, but
you cannot power on virtual machines after they are powered off. You cannot
change the current configuration of the features that are in use. You cannot
use the features that remained unused before the license expiration."
But I've never used vCenter Server - I just use the web ui on the ESXi
host itself. I wonder if they have stopped it at the ESXi host level, or just in vCenter?
Yeah, would have to be. I just noticed my install date for 6.5u1 was back in 2017. Pretty amazing that you can install one of these things and never have to update it. Hell, I think I've probably rebooted the entire server machine under 10 times in 8 years (granted, I've rebooted the actual VMs quite a bit more).
Really? Back when I bought my server, it was wayyyy cheaper than
anything I could find as far as consumer grade hardware with the same
kind of specs.
I take it your 'old server' was consumer grade hardware? I had an itch
to build myself a new gaming rig, so I gave my old one to my son. Still pretty sure his will be fine for another 5 years.
I kinda chuckle when I give 2 CPUs and 4gb RAM to a VM that I do BBS
stuff on. :D
Yes, take a look if interested. Lenovo, HP have these desktop style servers. It's what you would find in small dental/doctor offices.
Whenever possible I try to stick with linux or mac before windows.
I'm not sure if I'm actually going to go through with it completely, but I'm playing around to see if it can be done, and how easy it would actually be to do. I have also been tinkering in the web interface to
see how it compares to ESXi as well. I do have to say, besides the containers - which I'll probably never use - they're actually alike in a lot of ways.
Awesome. Once you get it moved all over, at least for me it was pretty smooth sailing afterwards...
So, let's see what happens when I get bored and have some free time
next. ;)
Make the move for thr simple fact that Broadcom took them over... ?
Check out xcp-ng too... Another alternative....
DAMNIT MIKE. You can't open me up to all these viable alternatives
without me having to actually try them out, which is using up precious free time I shouldn't be wasting doing this kind of shit. LOL
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