====== Convert AstLinux install files to VMware ======

!!Obsolete info with AstLinux 1.2.5 and later.!!  Use the ISO Installer Image.

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===== Prepare the image =====

You can convert an astlinux-XX.img file to a VMware .vmdk file and have a bootable system with a few simple steps.

  - Download an AstLinux 'geni586' .img.gz file
  - Decompress the image using gunzip, yielding a .img file
  - Use the VBoxManage (CLI) utility ([[https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads|VirtualBox]]) to convert the image to a virtual disk

Example:

  gunzip astlinux-1.2.3-asterisk-11.18.0.img.gz

  VBoxManage convertfromraw -format VMDK astlinux-1.2.3-asterisk-11.18.0.img astlinux-1.2.3.vmdk

Here is the complete manual of the [[https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch08.html#idp46854861724896|VBoxManage convertfromraw]] command.

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===== Import the image in VMWare =====

Now we are ready to create a new VM in VMware ((This was tested in 2012 with VMWare vSphere 5)):

  * VMware -> New...
  * Create a custom virtual machine
  * Choose Operating System... "Linux -> Other Linux 3.x kernel"
  * Choose a Virtual Disk... "Use an existing virtual disk" -> Choose virtual disk... "astlinux-1.2.3.vmdk"
  * Finish, Customize Settings...

Then make custom Settings changes...

    Network Adapter: Bridged Networking (connect directly to the physical network)

    Processors & Memory: 2 processor cores (for fun) and 512 MB Memory

    Hard Disk: Disk size: 2.00 GB (enter), Advanced -> Bus Type: SCSI, check Pre-allocate disk space, then click Apply.

    Startup Disk: "Hard Disk (SCSI)"  (using "lsilogic" SCSI virtualDev)

The rest of the defaults should be OK.

Start the AstLinux Virtual Machine...

Finally, configure using the normal **[[userdoc:new-install|setup]]**.

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/*==== Alternative for "VBoxManage" in Java ====

https://github.com/Zapotek/raw2vmdk/downloads

Usage:

  java -Dtype=<ide|buslogic|lsilogic|legacyESX> -jar raw2vmdk.jar <raw image> <vmdk outfile>

Example (instead of using " ''VBoxManage convertfromraw'' ... "):

  cd raw2vmdk-0.1.3.1-jar/
  java -jar raw2vmdk.jar ~/Desktop/astlinux-1.0.1-asterisk-1.8.8.1.img ~/Desktop/astlinux-1.0.1.vmdk

\\*/