Step-by-Step Guide: Converting VMware .vmdk to Hyper-V .vhdx Using PowerShell

If you're switching from VMware to Hyper-V, one key task is converting your VMware virtual disk files (.vmdk) into Hyper-V compatible disk files (.vhdx). This can be easily done using PowerShell, which streamlines the process. This guide walks you through each step to convert a .vmdk file to .vhdx using PowerShell.

What Are .vmdk and .vhdx Files?

• .vmdk (Virtual Machine Disk): Used by VMware virtual machines, this file acts as a virtual hard disk where the machine's data is stored.
• .vhdx (Virtual Hard Disk): Used by Hyper-V, this format provides better performance, larger storage capacity, and more reliability than the older .vhd format.

Prerequisites

Make sure you have the following before you start:

• Windows 10 or Windows Server: With PowerShell installed.
• Hyper-V Manager: Installed on your system, which includes the required PowerShell cmdlets.
• Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter (MVMC) or Disk2vhd tool: MVMC is the preferred option, but Disk2vhd can also be used.
• Access to the .vmdk file you wish to convert.

Detailed Steps to Convert .vmdk to .vhdx

Step 1: Set Up the Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter (MVMC)

1. Download the MVMC Tool: Visit a trusted site to download the installer for the Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter.
2. Install the Tool: Follow the on-screen installation instructions to set up MVMC on your computer.

Step 2: Open PowerShell and Load the MVMC Module

1. Run PowerShell as an Administrator: Right-click the PowerShell icon and choose "Run as Administrator."

Load the MVMC Module

To use MVMC, the module must be loaded into PowerShell. Here’s how:

Import-Module "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter\MvmcCmdlet.psd1"        

Replace the path if MVMC was installed in a different directory. This command imports the MVMC Cmdlets required for virtual machine and disk conversion.

Step 3: Convert the VMware .vmdk to Hyper-V .vhdx

After loading the MVMC module, it’s time to convert your .vmdk disk file to the Hyper-V .vhdx format.

Locate the .vmdk File

Before running the conversion command, ensure that you know the full path to the .vmdk file you want to convert. It will be something like:

C:\VirtualMachines\MyVM.vmdk        

3.2. Convert Using PowerShell

The PowerShell command for converting the .vmdk file is:

ConvertTo-MvmcVirtualHardDisk -SourceLiteralPath "C:\Path\to\YourDisk.vmdk" -DestinationLiteralPath "C:\Path\to\OutputDisk.vhdx" -VhdType DynamicHardDisk -VhdFormat Vhdx        

In this command:

• SourceLiteralPath: This is the path to the .vmdk file.
• DestinationLiteralPath: This is the path where the converted .vhdx file will be saved.
• VhdType: Use DynamicHardDisk for dynamically expanding disks (grows as needed) or FixedHardDisk for fixed-size disks.
• VhdFormat: You can specify Vhdx for modern Hyper-V disk format.

Step 4: Convert Using qemu-img (Optional)

If you want an alternative method, you can use the qemu-img tool to convert the .vmdk file to .vhdx.

Download and Install qemu-img

First, download and install qemu-img, which is an open-source utility to convert various disk image formats.

Convert the Disk Image

Use the following command to convert the .vmdk to .vhdx:

qemu-img.exe convert -f vmdk "source.vmdk" -O vhdx -o subformat=dynamic "output.vhdx"        

• -f vmdk: This specifies the format of the source file, which is a VMware .vmdk.
• -O vhdx: This specifies the output format, which is .vhdx.
• -o subformat=dynamic: This option ensures the disk will be created in a dynamically expanding format.

Step 5: Check the Consistency of the Virtual Disk

After the conversion, it’s important to check if the virtual disk is consistent and without errors. You can use the qemu-img tool for this.

Check Disk Consistency

To verify the integrity of the converted virtual disk, use the following command:

qemu-img.exe check "output.vhdx"        

This command will check the .vhdx file for any potential issues.

Get Information About the Virtual Disk

If you want to inspect the converted disk for details like format, size, and more, you can run:

qemu-img.exe info "output.vhdx"        

This command will display useful information about the .vhdx file.

Step 6: Attach the Converted Disk to Hyper-V

1. Create a New Hyper-V Virtual Machine using Hyper-V Manager.
2. Use the Converted .vhdx File: During the VM setup, select the option to attach an existing virtual disk and point to the converted .vhdx file.

Conclusion

You've now successfully converted your VMware .vmdk file to a Hyper-V .vhdx file using PowerShell. This method simplifies the transition from VMware to Hyper-V, making it more efficient and less prone to errors. Always remember to back up your files before starting the conversion to safeguard your data.