How to Migrate a Physical System to a KVM Virtual Server

Migrate physical system to KVM virtual server involves converting the physical machine’s operating system, applications, and data into a virtual machine (VM) that can run on the KVM hypervisor. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do this:

1. Assess the Physical System:
Evaluate the physical system to determine its hardware specifications, operating system version, installed applications, and data storage requirements.

2. Prepare the KVM Host:
Set up a KVM host server with sufficient resources (CPU, memory, storage) to accommodate the migrated VM.
Install the KVM hypervisor and the necessary tools on the host server. On Linux systems, you can use packages like qemu-kvm, libvirt, and first-install.

3. Convert Physical Disk to Virtual Disk:
Use disk imaging software to create a backup image of the physical system’s disk(s). Tools like Clonezilla, dd, or part image can be used for this purpose.
Transfer the disk image to the KVM host server, either directly or via a network connection.

4. Create Virtual Machine Configuration:
On the KVM host server, create a new virtual machine configuration using a tool like virt-manager, virsh, or first-install.
Specify the desired CPU, memory, disk, and network settings for the virtual machine. Make sure to allocate resources similar to or greater than those of the physical system.

5. Convert Disk Image to VM Disk Format:
Convert the disk image obtained from the physical system to a format compatible with KVM, such as QCOW2 or RAW.
You can use tools like qemu-img to perform the conversion. For example:
#qemu-img convert -O qcow2 physical_disk.img virtual_disk.qcow2

6. Attach Virtual Disk to VM:
Attach the converted virtual disk to the newly created virtual machine configuration on the KVM host server.

7. Adjust VM Configuration:
If necessary, modify the virtual machine configuration to reflect any hardware differences between the physical system and the virtual environment. This may include network settings, storage paths, and device drivers.

8. Boot Virtual Machine:
Start the virtual machine on the KVM host server and monitor the boot process to ensure it starts up successfully.

9. Install Virtio Drivers (Optional):
Install Virtio drivers inside the virtual machine for optimal performance, especially for disk and network devices.
Virtio drivers can improve disk and network performance by providing paravirtualized drivers optimized for KVM.

10. Test and Verify:
Test the migrated virtual machine to ensure that all applications and services are functioning correctly.
Verify network connectivity, storage access, and any other critical functionality.

11. Post-Migration Tasks:
Once the migration is successful, decommission the physical system or repurpose it for other tasks.
Make sure to back up the virtual machine regularly to protect against data loss or corruption.
Keep in mind that the migration process may vary depending on factors such as the operating system of the physical system, the tools available, and any specific requirements of the virtual environment. Always consult the official documentation for the tools and platforms involved for detailed instructions and best practices.

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