VMware discontinuing vCenter Converter raises concerns about its relevance. However, the release of vCenter Converter 6.6 brings promising updates.
Updated by Dan Zeng on 2024/04/03
The official VMware website has made an important announcement: they have removed vCenter Converter from the list of VMware products for download. This means that people will no longer be able to download this product from the VMware website. According to the official statement, since the last version 6.2 was launched in May 2018, vCenter Converter hadn't seen much updates, with security risks and not stable enough, so it was banished severely.
The vCenter Converter P2V tool is primarily used to convert physical computers to virtual machines. Its features include converting an existing physical server or desktop system into a VMware virtual machine, allowing you to better manage and utilize resources in a virtualized environment. In addition, vCenter Converter can tune and optimize converted virtual machines to ensure they run efficiently on the VMware platform.
However, it is refreshing to see that just last September, some lucky people actually received an invitation from VMware to join the vCenter Converter Beta Program, and a download link was also given! It was on February 22nd of this year that VMware officially launched version 6.6. This version of vCenter Converter is amazing, not only can convert KVM-based workloads, but also can handle AHV (Nutanix) and RHV (Red Hat Virtualization) formats, which brings a lot of convenience to system administrators. Moreover, it supports RHEL 8 and 9 as well as the latest Ubuntu versions (20.04 / 22.04)! Compared to older versions, the new beta user interface has also been slightly updated to be more in line with current design trends.
To use VMware P2V Converter, following these steps:
1.Start Conversion Wizard
Initiate the conversion wizard and follow the steps to create a conversion job.
2.Select Source Machine
3.Choose Destination for New Virtual Machine
4.Configure Hardware of Destination Virtual Machine
5.Configure Software on Destination Virtual Machine
6.Configure Conversion Job
7.Review Summary and Submit Conversion Job
But the story doesn't end there. In November 2023, wireless communication chip giant Broadcom emerged and swallowed VMware. This change transformed VMware's payment model from "perpetual license" to "subscription model". It's almost like shifting from one-time purchase to monthly leasing, a series of changes that leave people in a desperate state. If vCenter Converter P2V also quickly transitions to a subscription license following this trend, it wouldn't be surprising.
Therefore, in this turbulent environment, finding stable and reliable backup and recovery solutions becomes especially crucial. Vinchin Backup & Recovery can be your savior. Specifically designed for virtualized environments, Vinchin Backup & Recovery solutions effortlessly adapt to various platforms, including VMware, Proxmox, Hyper-V, and more, ensuring worry-free data backup and recovery. Its automated processes and intelligent management significantly enhance work efficiency, safeguarding your data's security. Whether it's daily backup management or disaster recovery, Vinchin provides reliable support, enabling you to stay resilient amidst market fluctuations.
Vinchin Backup & Recovery's operation is straightforward, requiring just a few simple steps.
1.Just select VMs on the host
2.Then select backup destination
3.Select strategies
4.Finally submit the job 
In addition, Vinchin also supports V2V migration. Users can take advantage of a 60-day free trial offered by Vinchin to experience its functionality in real-world environments. For further information, please feel free to reach out directly to Vinchin or get in touch with our local partners.
Q1: Are there any limitations or considerations for vCenter P2V conversions?
A1: Yes, some limitations and considerations may apply to vCenter P2V conversions, such as compatibility issues with certain hardware or software configurations, limitations on supported guest operating systems, and potential performance impacts during the conversion process.
Q2:What is the difference between V2V and P2V?
A2: V2V (Virtual-to-Virtual) and P2V (Physical-to-Virtual) are both methods used in the process of virtualization, but they involve different types of migrations. V2V involves migrating a virtual machine from one virtualization platform to another, while P2V involves converting a physical machine into a virtual machine.
In light of VMware discontinuing vCenter Converter, its relevance wanes. However, the emergence of vCenter Converter 6.6 offers promising updates, yet amidst market changes, dependable backup solutions like Vinchin Backup & Recovery are imperative.
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