Add existing OS to proxmox VE

[DTIVKITT]

Hi everyone. I have a bare metal Windows 10 installed in a HDD and I'd like to add it to PVE. I wouldn't like to convert the OS to Virtual, because if for any reason my PVE HDD dies, I can still boot the W10 directly.

I thought about creating a VM similar to the HDD OS and just replace the HDD in the VM. But I'm stuck there, I can't find a way to add it without having to format it.

Any idea if it will work and how to do it?

 

[LnxBil]

Have you read this overview already?

In general: With a lot of work, it may be possible and will probably loosing the activation of course due to hardware changes. Furthermore, it is not allowed to run a Windows Desktop anything other then Enterprise in a virtualized server environment.

 

[DTIVKITT]

Yes, I have read the overview but couldn't find anything related to "physical-to-physical" or how to import physical OS to PVE.
I don't get why its just allowed Enterprise Windows version for PVE. I'm a home user, I can't afford a Enterprise license (and its an overkill, for my case).

The hardware I'm using is not that great, but again, its for home purposes. Its an AMD Phenom II X4-850 and 12GB memory.
The reason why I'm asking to do this is because I think is a waste of hardware having this system to run just one OS.

So, Is there any other way I can be safe if my PVE disk fails? I'd like to boot directly from my OS HDD if necessary, without PVE.

 

[LnxBil]

I don't get why its just allowed Enterprise Windows version for PVE.

It's not PVE, it's Microsoft licensing.

or how to import physical OS to PVE.

The whole page is about that.

So, Is there any other way I can be safe if my PVE disk fails?

The only way to plan ahead is local RAID (for disk failures) and backup for a disaster.

 

[DTIVKITT]

Well, I guess PVE is not for me. Thanks for your time and help.

 

[LnxBil]

Well, I guess PVE is not for me. Thanks for your time and help.

No problem and good look.

Besides, none of the problems you descibed are PVE related, so you will run into those problems with other virtualization platforms as well.