Step 1: Create a Disk Image (Using dd)
Run the following command to create a full backup of your Linux server’s hard drive:
dd if=/dev/sda of=/mnt/backup/sda.img bs=8M conv=sync,noerror
Explanation of Parameters:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
if=/dev/sda |
Source disk (replace sda with your actual disk) |
of=/mnt/backup/sda.img |
Output file (ensure /mnt/backup has enough space) |
bs=8M |
Block size (improves speed by reading/writing in 8MB chunks) |
conv=sync,noerror |
Continues copying even if read errors occur (sync ensures proper alignment) |
Step 2: Convert RAW Image to VMDK (Using QEMU)
see article
Step 3: Create a VM in VMware Workstation Pro
Step 4: Export to OVF (Optional)
see article
