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Converting Image File Format From GHO to VMDK and From VMDK to GHO

Created: 02 Jun 2010 | 11 comments
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yogeshsadhu's picture
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In your environment you may have to use different image file format while performing imaging or cloning operations, Ghost and Vmware are widely used technologies for preparing machine either for development or for testing purpose.

Ghost treats virtual disks as images. You can image a machine to a virtual disk (create a vmdk file instead of a .gho file), and you can restore a machine from a vmdk file. While performing any imaging operation GHO is the default file format of ghost

VMDK files cannot be opened in Ghost explorer, You can mount a VMDK file by using ghost with switch –ad=<image file name>, once it is mounted can be used in all ghost operation.

You may want to use a Physical machine's Ghost image in vmdk or otherwise, you may want to use a vmdk to prepare a Physical machine .

By performing following simple commands you can convert the GHO files to VMDK and a VMDK file to GHO.

To convert from GHO to VMDK
ghost32 -clone,mode=restore,src=my.gho,dst=myimage.vmdk -batch -sure 
To convert from VMDK to GHO spliiting into 100MB chunks
ghost32 -clone,mode=create,src=my.vmdk,dst=myimage.gho -batch -sure -split=100 

There are some more switch available

  • vmdktype: Used for specifying the VMDK file type , which can be Sparse or Flat
  • vmdksplit: Used for splitting the VMDK image
  • vmdksize: Used in specifying the size of vmdk file
  • vmdkAdapter: Specifying the type of disk adapter for created vmdk
To create a VMDK file form machine directly
Ghost32 –clone,mode=create,src=1,dst=myimage.vmdk  -vmdk -sure 
To restore VMDK image on machine directly
Ghost32 –clone,mode=restore,src=myimage.vmdk,dst=1  -vmdk -sure

Comments 11 CommentsJump to latest comment

Akshat's picture

cool tip yogesh..
Thanks a lot

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psm1968's picture

I gave this a try, but am getting an ABORT: 11030, Invalid Destination Drive. I've tried moving ghost32.exe to the same location as my GHO file and vice versa. Moved everything to the TEMP directory. Keep getting the same error. Almost like it doesn't have permission to create the file. I am an admin on my workstation, so I am thinking that should not be a problem. (GSS 2.5 v11.0.1.1533)

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chicago's picture

Hi , please reference the page
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/on-technology...

you should be use Ghost versions 11.5.

Good luck

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yogeshsadhu's picture

Can you provide the exact command you have used ; Error indicates destination is not accesible , so are providing complete path to dst=<> and it has enough space?

Yogesh Sadhu.

If you feel your issue has been addressed,please use the "Mark as Solution" link for the relevant thread.

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scottcopus's picture

I'm also getting the 11030 error.

I also tried creating a VMDK file using the command line:
   ghost32 –clone,mode=create,src=2,dst=myimage.vmdk -vmdk -sure
where my 2nd disk is connected via USB external adapter.  The error I got was:  Invalid switch: vmdk

I'm using Ghost32.exe version 11.0.2 from our GSS suite.  Does it require a newer version of Ghost?

thanks,
Scott

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chicago's picture

Hi , please reference the page
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/on-technology...

you should be use Ghost versions 11.5.

Good luck

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Istvan's picture

Hi, I have an image file created with Ghost2003. I would like to create from this image a virtual disk for VMware. I have downloaded VMware vCenter Converter SA, but it does not support .gho files. How can I do it?

Details: The original machine has dead and I changed the motherboard in it and done I full reinstall. Before I reinstalled the OS (XP Prof) I have made a Ghost2003 image of the system. So I have a .gho image and I want to create a virtual machine in VMware.

Thanx!

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rvp1001's picture

Need help troubleshooting the conversion of gho to vmdk format?

Not sure why it is complaining invalid destination drive.

Is it a 8.3 DOS thing?

My goal to clone gho image to vmdk so I can test the image.

Suggestion what are solution to convert gho to vmdk within ghost.exe command line.

I know that Vmware local converter has an option to restore from synmetic sv2i  format.

error mesage I'm getting.

O:\>ghost32.exe -clone,mode=restore,src="P:\1.0.2\x64\X64Cgm102.GHO",dst="F:\win
7\x64\vmdk\win7x64.vmdk" -batch -sure

ABORT: 11030, Invalid destination drive

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pietje1's picture

commands are OK, but you version of ghost32.exe is not.

when I use ghost32.exe with version 11.0.1.1533 I get the same error

when I use ghost32.exe with version 11.5.0.2113 everything works fine and I can use the vmdk with vmware

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Alvinh's picture

I use Ghost32.exe 11.5 version.

GHO to VMDK

CMD==> ghost32 -clone,mode=restore,src=my.gho,dst=myimage.vmdk -batch -sure 

1.How to deceide my restore disk space? => I check VM always get C disk has 120GB

2.How to split the VMDK file? Like from one to two or three file.

VMDK (5GB) => split => VMDK1(2GB) +VMDK2(2GB)+VMDK3(1GB)

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jrhudson's picture

I'm trying to convert a encrypted .gho file to a .vmdk.  Is this possible?

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