Carbon Setup and Configuration Guide
This page provides a step-by-step guide for configuring and setting up Carbon, ensuring a seamless process from installation to activation. By following these instructions, users can properly register Carbon, set up notifications, and prepare it for managing virtual machine migrations.
Step 1: Launch the Carbon Application
To begin the configuration process, double-click the Carbon icon on your desktop. You will be presented with a User Account Control (UAC) prompt asking for permission to allow the application to make changes to your device. Ensure that the publisher is listed as SmiKar Software Pty Ltd, then click Yes to proceed. This step initiates the Carbon setup process, preparing the application for initial configuration.
Step 2: Begin the Configuration Process
After launching the Carbon application, the Setup Wizard will appear, guiding you through the configuration process. It is recommended that you close all other applications before continuing to ensure a smooth setup experience. Click Next to proceed with the configuration. This wizard will help you set up Carbon with the required settings for your environment.
Step 3: Review Important Information
The Important Information screen provides critical details about using Carbon. Carefully read the information to understand the requirements and conditions for the conversion process:
- Internet Access: Carbon requires an active internet connection to access the Azure environment. Ensure that firewalls or proxy servers are configured to allow access.
- VMware Conversion: If converting to VMware, ensure there is sufficient disk space on the selected drive to download the Azure virtual disks and perform the conversion to VMDK format.
- Hyper-V Conversion: For Hyper-V, you must have the Hyper-V Management Tools installed, including the Hyper-V PowerShell module.
- Permissions: You must have Owner permissions on the Azure Virtual Machines you want to migrate.
- VM Status: Only stopped (deallocated) virtual machines can be migrated. Ensure that no VMs are running during the process.
- Disclaimer: By proceeding, you acknowledge that SmiKar Software cannot be held responsible for any potential data loss or corruption during the migration.
After reading and understanding the information, click Understood and accepted and then click Next to continue. If you do not wish to proceed, click Decline & Exit.
Step 4: Log in to Azure Active Directory
In this step, you will need to authenticate with your Azure Active Directory account to allow Carbon to access your Azure environment. Follow these instructions carefully:
- Click the “Azure Active Directory Login” button to open the Azure login portal.
- Enter your Azure credentials when prompted. Ensure you are using an account with the necessary RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) permissions for managing virtual machines and storage resources.
- Once logged in successfully, Carbon will verify your credentials, and the Next button will become enabled.
- You will be presented with the Azure Subscriptions the account you have used to login to Azure will have.
It is important to ensure that the account used has sufficient permissions, such as Owner or Contributor, on the Azure subscription where the virtual machines are located. Without the correct permissions, the migration process cannot proceed.
Step 5: Select the Target Hypervisor Platform
In this step, you will choose the target hypervisor platform where your Azure virtual machines will be migrated. Carbon supports multiple platforms, allowing flexibility based on your infrastructure. The available options are:
- SCVMM – Select this option if you are migrating to a System Center Virtual Machine Manager environment.
- Hyper-V (without SCVMM) – Choose this option if you are migrating directly to a standalone Hyper-V host without using SCVMM.
- VMware (vCenter) – Select this option if you are migrating to a VMware environment managed by vCenter.
- VMware (ESXi) – Choose this option if you are migrating directly to a standalone ESXi host without vCenter.
After selecting the appropriate target hypervisor platform for your environment, click Next to proceed. Ensure you choose the correct option based on your destination setup to avoid compatibility issues during the migration process.
Step 6: Configure the Target Hypervisor
Depending on the target hypervisor platform you selected in the previous step, the setup process will prompt you to provide the necessary details for either Hyper-V standalone hosts, VMware vCenter, VMware ESXi, or SCVMM.
Option 1: Hyper-V Standalone Hosts
If you selected Hyper-V (without SCVMM), you will need to enter the details of up to 10 standalone Hyper-V servers where your Azure VMs will be migrated.
- Enter the hostnames or IP addresses of the Hyper-V servers in the provided fields.
- Ensure that all servers listed are accessible and properly configured to receive virtual machines.
- Once all the required server details are entered, click Next to proceed.
Option 2: VMware vCenter
If you selected VMware (vCenter), you will need to provide the credentials and vCenter server details for the migration.
- Enter your vCenter login credentials:
- Username – The vCenter username with the required permissions to create and manage VMs.
- Password – The corresponding password for the username.
- Domain – The domain associated with the vCenter account (if applicable).
- Enter the vCenter Server address:
- Provide the hostname or IP address of the vCenter server. Ensure that Carbon can communicate with this server over the network.
- Click Next once all fields are completed.
Option 3: VMware ESXi
If you selected VMware (ESXi), you will need to provide the credentials and server details of the standalone ESXi host where the VMs will be migrated.
- Enter your ESXi login credentials:
- Username – The username with administrative permissions on the ESXi host.
- Password – The corresponding password for the username.
- Enter the ESXi Server address:
- Provide the hostname or IP address of the standalone ESXi host. Ensure that SSH is enabled on the host and that it is not managed by a vCenter server.
- Click Next to proceed.
Option 4: SCVMM
If you selected SCVMM, you will need to provide the credentials and SCVMM server details to enable Carbon to manage the migration.
- Enter your SCVMM login credentials:
- Username – The username with administrative permissions on the SCVMM server.
- Password – The corresponding password for the username.
- Domain – The domain associated with the SCVMM account.
- Enter the SCVMM Server address:
- Provide the hostname or IP address of the SCVMM server. Ensure that Carbon can communicate with this server over the network.
- Click Next once all fields are completed.
This step ensures that Carbon is correctly configured to interact with your chosen hypervisor platform, enabling a smooth and efficient migration process.
Step 7: Configure Email Notifications
In this step, you can set up email notifications to receive alerts and updates from Carbon during the migration process. This ensures you are informed about the status of the migration and any potential issues.
Email Settings
- SMTP Server – Enter the address of your email server.
- Port – Provide the port number used by the SMTP server (e.g., 25, 465, or 587).
- SSL – Check this box if your SMTP server requires a secure SSL connection.
- From Address – Specify the sender’s email address that will appear in the notifications.
- Username – Enter the username for the SMTP server (if authentication is required).
- Password – Provide the password associated with the username.
Recipients
- Primary Email – Enter the primary recipient’s email address for notifications.
- Secondary Email – (Optional) Enter an additional recipient’s email address if required.
- Send test email – Click this button to verify the email settings by sending a test email. Ensure that the recipients receive the test email before proceeding.
If you prefer not to set up email notifications at this time, click Skip to proceed without configuring email. Otherwise, click Next once you have entered the required details.
This step ensures that you stay informed during the entire migration process.
Step 8: Register Carbon
In this step, you will register Carbon using a valid license key. Registration is necessary to activate the product and begin using it for your migration tasks.
Registering with a License Key
- Ensure system date, time, and region settings are correct – Make sure your system’s date, time, and region settings are accurate to ensure that the license key is applied correctly.
- Enter License Key – If you have a valid license key, enter it in the provided field.
- Activate – Click the Activate link to register the product with your license key.
Requesting a Free Trial Key
If you do not have a license key, you can request a free trial key by:
- Clicking the Request free trial key link.
- Alternatively, you can email sales@smikar.com to request a free trial key. Include your organisation’s name and contact details in the email to expedite the process.
Once you have activated the license or entered a trial key, the status will change from Pending Activation to Activated. Click Next to proceed.
Step 9: Provide Contact Details for Trial Activation
Once you have requested and received a trial key or activated Carbon with a license, you will be prompted to provide your contact details to complete the activation process. This information is required to activate the trial and receive support.
- Name – Enter your full name (this is a required field).
- Email – Provide a valid email address where support and updates can be sent (this is a required field).
- Company – (Optional) Enter the name of your organisation.
Click OK to complete the activation.
Note: This information is solely used for activation and support purposes. SmiKar Software will not share your contact details with any third party.
Once completed, Carbon will be fully activated, and you can proceed with configuring the remaining settings.
Step 10: Complete the Installation and Restart
Once the activation is complete, you will see the Carbon Installation Process Complete screen. A prompt will appear, reminding you to restart your system before launching Carbon. This step is essential to apply the environmental variables and registry settings required for Carbon to function properly.
- Click OK on the reboot required prompt.
- Click Finish to close the setup wizard.
- Restart your system – This is necessary to avoid potential errors when using Carbon.
After restarting, you can begin using Carbon to manage your virtual environment and perform cloud repatriation tasks.
Carbon: Simplifying Cloud Repatriation for Smarter IT
Carbon takes the complexity out of cloud repatriation, providing an automated, efficient, and cost-effective solution to bring your Azure VMs back on-premise—streamlining your IT strategy while maximising performance and control.