Vmware Standalone Converter Unable To Query The Live Linux Source Machine |best| Full May 2026

The error "Unable to query the live Linux source machine" in VMware vCenter Converter Standalone usually occurs when the tool cannot successfully execute its sysinfo utility on the source machine to gather disk and partition information. Core Troubleshooting Steps

Linux P2V issue: unable to query the live Linux source machine

If you're getting the "Unable to query the live Linux source machine" error in VMware Standalone Converter, it usually means the tool can't properly communicate with your Linux machine or run its inventory scripts.

Here is a breakdown of the most common causes and how to fix them. 1. SSH & Credentials Issues The error " Unable to query the live

The Converter uses SSH to log in and run discovery commands. PermitRootLogin PermitRootLogin yes is set in your source machine’s /etc/ssh/sshd_config . If you are using a non-root user, that user have passwordless sudo privileges (configured via username ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL SFTP Compatibility contains an

statement or any command that produces text output upon login, it can break the SFTP connection the Converter uses. Move these statements to .bash_profile Encryption Mismatch

: Older versions of the Converter may struggle with modern SSH HMACs. Ensure your sshd_config supports older algorithms like if the connection fails immediately. 2. File System & Partitioning Errors Step D: Restart SSH Apply the changes: sudo

The Converter often fails if it finds a disk layout it doesn't recognize. Duplicate Mount Points

: Ensure each disk device is only mounted once. Multiple mount points for the same partition (e.g., mounted at both ) will cause a query failure. Unrecognized Volumes

: If your source machine uses NVMe disks or certain LVM configurations not supported by your specific Converter version, it may fail to map the drives. Broadcom support portal 3. Permission & Execution Blocks The discovery process involves running a script called vmware-sysinfo.sh directory. Unable to query live Linux source machine Try the conversion wizard again

Step D: Restart SSH

Apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart sshd

Try the conversion wizard again.

Quick Checklist (Before Diving In)

• Can you SSH from the Converter machine to the Linux source?
• Does root login work via SSH?
• Is the source Linux distribution supported? (RHEL 5–9, Ubuntu 12.04–22.04, CentOS 5–7, SLES 10–12 generally work.)
• Is SELinux or AppArmor blocking the Converter agent?

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Workflow

1. Verify SSH connectivity and root access – Manual SSH test.
2. Check required tools – Run sfdisk, blkid, lsblk over SSH.
3. Examine Converter logs – On the Windows machine running Converter:
   C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware vCenter Converter Standalone\logs\
   Look for vmware-converter-server.log and vmware-converter-worker.log.
   On Linux source: check /tmp/vmware-root/ and /tmp/vmware-converter-*.log.
4. Temporarily disable SELinux/AppArmor and retry.
5. Try the “Reconfigure source machine” option – Sometimes the agent is half-installed; reconfiguration pushes a fresh agent.
6. Use the cold clone CD/ISO method – If live query fails repeatedly, boot the Linux source from the VMware Converter boot CD (based on WinPE or Linux rescue) and perform an offline conversion.