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Migration Scenarios

When migrating data from a remote Windows or Linux computer, Parallels Transporter transfers it to a newly created Parallels virtual hard disk (.hdd) and creates a virtual machine configuration file (.pvs). These two files constitute a ready-to-use virtual machine. During the remote migration, only the active volume (the source computer boot volume) is made bootable, and the resulting virtual machine has the same operating system that was active during the migration. If Parallels Transporter is unable to identify the source operating system, all source volumes are migrated as data disks.

Parallels Transporter offers you the following ways to migrate data.

Migrating Using the Parallels USB Cable

This is the easiest and fastest mode of migration. Before starting the migration, you connect the host and source computers with the help of the Parallels USB cable. The Parallels USB cable is supplied with Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac only. On the source computer, you have Parallels Transporter Agent installed, while the host computer has Parallels Transporter installed.

Before you start the migration, you need to start Parallels Transporter Agent on the source computer and Parallels Transporter on the host computer. Parallels Transporter connects to Parallels Transporter Agent. Transporter Agent collects data on the source computer and transfers it to Parallels Transporter. Parallels Transporter saves the source computer data in a Parallels virtual machine on the host computer.

Note: This migration scenario is available for Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP source physical computers only.

Migrating Over Network

Migrating over network assumes that your source and host computers are connected to the same network. On the source computer, you have Parallels Transporter Agent installed, while the host computer has Parallels Transporter installed.

Before you start the migration, you need to start Parallels Transporter Agent on the source computer and Parallels Transporter on the host computer. Parallels Transporter connects to Parallels Transporter Agent. Transporter Agent collects data on the source computer and transfers it to Parallels Transporter.

Migrating Using the FireWire Cable

For migrating the Windows XP source computers, you can also use the FireWire connection. You can try to migrate a source computer with Linux or other Windows operating system using FireWire, but it may require additional drivers installation or setting some parameters. For migrating using FireWire, you must have the FireWire cable and FireWire ports on your source and host computers. The procedure for migrating using FireWire is the same as for migrating over network.

Migrating Using an External Storage Device

If you don't have a Parallels USB cable and your source and host computers are not in the same network, you can migrate using an external storage device. To perform this type of migration, Parallels Transporter Agent must be installed on the source computer and Parallels Transporter on the host computer.

First you connect the external storage device to the source computer and use Parallels Transporter Agent to transfer all your data and applications to the storage device. They are transferred to a Parallels virtual machine.

Then you connect the storage device to the host computer and use Parallels Transporter to transfer the resulting virtual machine to the host computer. After that you can start working with the virtual machine in Parallels Workstation.