Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter– Hyper-V to VMware Conversions–Free Download Available

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Recently at some of my IT Pro events, folks are coming to me asking if there is a tool to migrate virtual machine to Hyper-V from VMware at no charge.

As of September 4th, the answer is yes.

The Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter provides a Microsoft-supported, freely available, stand-alone solution for converting VMware-based virtual machines and virtual disks to Hyper-V-based virtual machines and virtual hard disks (VHDs)—including conversion from VMware to Hyper-V on Windows Server 2012.

Launch the download of Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter.

Because MVMC has a fully scriptable command-line interface (CLI), it integrates especially well with data center automation workflows such as those authored and run within Microsoft System Center 2012 - Orchestrator. It can also be invoked through Windows PowerShell.

MVMC simplifies low-cost, point-and-click migration of:

  • Windows 7
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows Server 2003 R2 with SP2
  • Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Here’s More Detail

The Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter:

  • Provides a quick, low-risk option for VMware customers to evaluate Hyper-V.

  • Converts VMware virtual machines to Hyper-V virtual machines: The VM Conversion will convert VMware-hosted virtual machines and ensure that the entire configuration, such as memory, virtual processor, and other machine configurations, is also migrated from the initial source. The tool also adds virtual NICs to the deployed virtual machine on Hyper-V.

  • Supports a clean migration to Hyper-V with uninstallation of VMware tools on the source virtual machine.

  • Provides a wizard-driven GUI, making it simple to perform virtual machine conversion.

  • Installs integration services for Windows 2003 guests that are converted to Hyper-V virtual machines.

  • Supports conversion of virtual machines from VMware vSphere 4.1 and 5.0 hosts, including those hosted on a vSphere cluster, to Hyper-V. The tool also supports migration of virtual machines to a Hyper-V host that is part of a failover cluster.

    Note MVMC also supports conversion of virtual machines from VMware vSphere 4.0 if the host is managed by vCenter 4.1 or vCenter 5.0. You have to connect to vCenter 4.1 or 5.0 through MVMC to convert virtual machines on vSphere 4.0.

  • Supports offline conversions of VMware-based virtual hard disks (VMDK) to a Hyper-V-based virtual hard disk file format (.vhd file).

  • Includes a fully scriptable command-line interface (CLI) for performing machine conversion and offline disk conversion, integrating with data center automation workflows such as those authored and executed within System Center 2012 - Orchestrator. The command line can also be invoked through Windows PowerShell.

This stand-alone tool has a low footprint, is easy to install, and is supported by Microsoft.

Community and Feedback

To connect with others in the community, learn more about the tool, and get help with questions, visit the Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter Forum.

Please send questions or comments about this Solution Accelerator to MVMCdisc@microsoft.com.