I am currently running a Flex RAID array and a number of other applications on a physical windows server 2012 r2 Essentials machine. All the drives in the Flexraid array are connected to an IBM M1015 HBA running in IT mode.
I want to virtualize this server in ESXi 5. Preferably without having to rebuild the Essentials server from scratch. Here is what I am thinking of doing:
1. shutdown and disable flexraid services
2. P2V the Windows Server without the drives
3. Install ESXi on a USB drive connected to internal (Supermicro) mobo port
4. Boot up ESXi
5. Import Windows Server VM
6. Pass through IBM controller to VM
7. Boot up VM
8. Restart Flexraid
Will this work? Also will Flexraid recognize the drives as they were before the move? They will of course still be on the same ports on the controller.
And given that the server is a domain controller, are there any implications?
I posted this question in the Flexraid forum but there has been no response.
I want to virtualize this server in ESXi 5. Preferably without having to rebuild the Essentials server from scratch. Here is what I am thinking of doing:
1. shutdown and disable flexraid services
2. P2V the Windows Server without the drives
3. Install ESXi on a USB drive connected to internal (Supermicro) mobo port
4. Boot up ESXi
5. Import Windows Server VM
6. Pass through IBM controller to VM
7. Boot up VM
8. Restart Flexraid
Will this work? Also will Flexraid recognize the drives as they were before the move? They will of course still be on the same ports on the controller.
And given that the server is a domain controller, are there any implications?
I posted this question in the Flexraid forum but there has been no response.