systemctl stop apparmor systemctl disable apparmor # only for testing The Converter expects /bin/bash to exist and be the default shell for root.
PermitRootLogin yes MaxSessions 10 AllowTcpForwarding yes PermitTTY yes Then restart SSH: systemctl restart sshd
This article explains the root causes of this error and provides a step-by-step guide to resolving it. The error message indicates that the Converter (running on a Windows or Linux management machine) cannot successfully interrogate the source Linux host via SSH. The Converter relies on a temporary agent (often referred to as the Converter Helper or p2v agent ) that it uploads and executes on the source machine. If the helper cannot run or communicate back, the query fails. systemctl stop apparmor systemctl disable apparmor # only
Converter 6.2+ supports key-based authentication. Generate an SSH key pair and add the public key to /root/.ssh/authorized_keys on the source Linux machine. Step 2: Check Required Commands and Packages The Converter helper script executes commands like lsblk , blkid , fdisk , lvm , df , uname , and perl . Ensure these are installed and in $PATH for root.
ssh -v root@<linux_source_ip> If you are prompted for a password or receive Permission denied , correct authentication first. The Converter relies on a temporary agent (often
This error typically occurs during the "Source Machine" selection phase, immediately after providing the Linux machine’s IP address, root credentials, or SSH key. The converter initiates a connection but fails to retrieve hardware or operating system information, halting the process before conversion can begin.
While PermitRootLogin yes is required for Converter, consider using key-based authentication and restricting the source IP address in /etc/hosts.allow or via firewall rules for security. Step 4: Temporarily Disable SELinux/AppArmor SELinux (enforcing mode) frequently blocks the Converter’s helper agent. To test: Generate an SSH key pair and add the public key to /root/
setenforce 0 # Temporarily disable SELinux If conversion succeeds, you can create a custom SELinux policy or run the converter in permissive mode.
For AppArmor (Ubuntu/Debian):
echo $SHELL # Should show /bin/bash If root uses a different shell (e.g., /bin/sh ), change it:
Introduction VMware vCenter Converter Standalone is a powerful tool for converting physical machines (P2V) and third-party virtual machines to VMware virtual appliances. However, IT administrators frequently encounter a frustrating roadblock when attempting to convert a live Linux source machine: "Unable to query the live Linux source machine."