Knowledge Base

This article describes the procedure of adding a converted VMDK virtual disk to a VMware virtual machine

This article applies to the following virtual machines:

• VMware Workstation
• VMware Server

Introduction

Using Acronis True Image Echo you can convert a disk image, created with the program (.tib), to a virtual disk file of the type you select (.vmdk, .vhd, .hdd).

For detailed information on how to convert see User Guide:

• Acronis True Image Echo Workstation: Chapter 13.4 Converting disk images to virtual disks
• Acronis True Image Echo Server for Windows: Chapter 12.4 Converting disk images to virtual disks
• Acronis True Image Echo Enterprise Server: Chapter 13.4 Converting disk images to virtual disks

The converted .vmdk file can be used by VMware virtual machine.

Solution

To add a .vmdk virtual disk to the VMware machine, please do the following:

1. Open your VMware virtual machine and make sure it is powered off;
2. Choose VM -> Settings;
3. On the Hardware tab, click Add to start the Add Hardware wizard, select Hard Disk and click Next.
4. On the Select a Disk page, select Use an existing virtual disk and click Next.
5. On the Select an Existing Disk page, enter the path name and filename for the existing disk file, or browse to the file and click OK.

(!) Even if the converted virtual disk consists of several .vmdk files, you will need to pick only one .vmdk file at the last page of the wizard. This will add the whole virtual disk.

More information

You can find more information about working with virtual hard disks on the VMware documentation page: http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/

See also Acronis True Image Echo: V2P and P2V Migration.