Create a VDI image source VM based on a VHD file

Restrictions and guidelines

• This feature is under test. The system might fail to import a VHD file, and data loss might occur. Please save the original files.

• To avoid conversion failure, do not close the browser during VHD file conversion.

• To avoid copy failure, do not close the browser when the VHD file is being copied.

• ARM hosts do not support this feature in the current software version.

Procedure

1. From the left navigation pane, select Images.

2. Click the Image Source VMs tab, and click Create.

3. In the dialog box that opens, select Create VHD-Based VM for the creation type, and then click Next.

4. Upload a VHD file. After the file is successfully uploaded, click Convert. After conversion, select the host where the image source VM resides and the storage path. Then, click Copy Files. After the copying operation, enter the basic information configuration page.

5. Select image type VDI, configure basic information for the image source VM, and then click Next.

6. Configure settings for the image source VM, and click Next.

7. Verify that the image source VM configuration is correct, and click Finish.

Parameters

Basic Info

• Image Type: Specify the desktop architecture type that the image applies to. Available options include VDI and IDV.

• System Image: Used for identifying the operating system used by the image source VM. The operating system of the image source VM has been determined in the VHD file.

VMs

• Flavor: Specify the configuration of the image source VM. You can select the system-default VDI configuration or a self-defined VDI configuration defined in Flavors. Flavors specifies the CPU, memory, and system disk size for the image source VM.

• Network: Select the vSwitch for the image source VM network communication.

• Operating Mode: Set the CPU operating mode. Options include Compatible, Host Matching, and Passthrough. By default, the CPU operating mode is Passthrough.

  • Compatible: Virtualizes physical CPUs of different models into vCPUs of the same model. This mode feature high migration compatibility.

  • Host Matching: Virtualizes physical CPUs of different models into vCPUs of different models. This mode features low migration compatibility but provides better performance for VM operating systems than the Compatible mode.

  • Passthrough: Directly passes physical CPUs to VMs. This mode features low migration compatibility but provides better performance for VM operating systems than the Compatible mode and Host Matching mode. VMs using the passthrough CPU operating mode can be migrated only between hosts with the same CPU model.

• Simulate Physical Host: With this feature enabled, the application software considers a VM as a physical host. This parameter is available only when the CPU operating mode is Host Matching.

• System Image: Used for identifying the operating system used by the image source VM. The operating system of the image source VM has been determined in the VHD file.

• Cache Mode: Select a cache mode for VM storage files. Options include Directsync, Writethrough, Writeback, and None.

  • Directsync: The system reads data from the physical disk.

  • Writethrough: The system writes data to the host cache, and then to the physical disk.

  • Writeback: The system writes data to the VM cache, then to the host cache, and finally to the physical disk.

  • None: The system writes data to the VM cache, and then to the physical disk.

• Add Hardware: You can attach hardware devices to the image source VM as needed, for example, NIC, disk, CD-ROM, floppy disk, and watchdog.

  • Network

    • Network: Select the vSwitch for the image source VM network communication.

  • Disk

    • Disk Capacity: Capacity of a newly created disk.

    • Path: Storage path of a newly created disk.

  • CD-ROM: CD drive of the image source VM. You can mount a CD to the CD drive.

    • CD-ROM: Select the file to mount.

  • Floppy Disk: Floppy drive of the image source VM. You can mount a floppy disk to the floppy drive.

    • Floppy Disk: Select the file to mount.

  • Watchdog: Add a watchdog to the image source VM.

• Action: Select the action to take on VMs upon receipt of interrupt requests. Options include Restart, Shut Down, and Migrate. The default is Restart.