Convert VM to new physical machine

[malaki86]

I have a new PC on the way, but want to get started with building the system in a VM. I'm going to install Ubuntu 22.04.4 on it, along with Docker, Tdarr (node), etc etc etc. Basically, what I want to do when the new pc arrives is to connect it's hard drive to the server via a USB adapter, copy/clone the VM to that drive, then install the drive in the PC.

I have Ubuntu installing now, but just wanted to see what has to be done for the clone/copy when the time comes.

[SpaceInvaderOne]

Yes its very straight forward. We can use the qemu-img tool to convert a virtual disk image  to a physical disk.
If the image is a raw image (by default in Unraid it is) then you would use this command

 

qemu-img convert -f raw -O raw /mnt/user/domains/vm_name/vdisk1.img /dev/sdX

If the image was a qcow2 image then the command would be

 

qemu-img convert -f qcow2 -O raw /mnt/user/domains/vm_name/vdisk1.img /dev/sdX

So the  /dev/sdX refers to the disk you want to copy it to. Plug the disk that you want to use for the real machine into the server and it will get a letter. So for instance the  /dev/sdg   Be careful its the correct one as you dont want to write over an anraid array disk etc.

Also just make sure the location of the vdisk for the vm is correct  for this part   /mnt/user/domains/vm_name/vdisk1.img

[malaki86]

10 hours ago, SpaceInvaderOne said:

Yes its very straight forward. We can use the qemu-img tool to convert a virtual disk image  to a physical disk.
If the image is a raw image (by default in Unraid it is) then you would use this command

 

qemu-img convert -f raw -O raw /mnt/user/domains/vm_name/vdisk1.img /dev/sdX

If the image was a qcow2 image then the command would be

 

qemu-img convert -f qcow2 -O raw /mnt/user/domains/vm_name/vdisk1.img /dev/sdX

So the  /dev/sdX refers to the disk you want to copy it to. Plug the disk that you want to use for the real machine into the server and it will get a letter. So for instance the  /dev/sdg   Be careful its the correct one as you dont want to write over an anraid array disk etc.

Also just make sure the location of the vdisk for the vm is correct  for this part   /mnt/user/domains/vm_name/vdisk1.img

I found your video early this morning on how to do it. I'm building the physical to virtual now. Next will be converting the virtual to physical next.

When I set up the new VM (Windows 11) from the now-creating vdisk, other than using the manual setting to select the img file, is there anything else special that I need to do?

[SpaceInvaderOne]

I would probably use q35 chipset over i440fx

[SterlingF]

What Video is this?

[kalyway]

On 7/28/2024 at 6:58 PM, SterlingF said:

What Video is this?

This is the only video I could find and it's a little after 10mins in. Not the same steps, but it is the same premise. The steps in the video are what worked for me.

dd='/mnt/user/domains/Ubuntu/vdisk1.img' of='/dev/sdX' status=progress

 

Edited September 18 by kalyway
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