Redeploy a Win Server 2003 to a new physical hardware

Hi All,

I would like to redeploy a Win Server 2003 R2 Std Edition to a new physical hardware. I would like to convert the physical machine into virtual, and after which uses vSphere Hypervisor to redeploy the virtual machine in a new hardware.

A few clarification:

1) Is above strategy possible?

2) Is Win Server 2003 R2 Std Edition supported by vCenter Converter? From the documentation, it does not listed as one of the Supported OS.

3) Is it a must to have the Source and Destination both available/online at the same time to execute this? Possible to first convert to the physical to virtual. And redeploy the virtual separately?

Thanks in advance!