Deploying OVF template will be failed with ‘Target datastore must be specified in order to deploy the OVF template to the vSphere DRS disabled cluster’

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:
When trying to deploy OVF template which vmdks have Storage Policies in vCenter 6.5 U1 or later build, the deployment fails with error:
 
Target datastore must be specified in order to deploy the OVF template to the vSphere DRS disabled cluster
 
Note: In the case of prior to vCenter 6.5 U1, contact to VMware Technical Support.

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 6.5.x

Cause

This is caused because OVF template with Storage Policy requires the cluster DRS-enabled. So, deployment process fails to find a target datastore corresponding to the Storage Policy in OVF.

Resolution

To deploy the OVF template, you have to specify a target datastore and a Storage Policy each Disk Group and disk in Advanced panel in deployment wizard.

1. Start Deploy OVF Template wizard.
2. In Select storage select VM storage policy, virtual disk format and datastores. Click Advanced.
3. In Action > Edit select VM storage policy, virtual disk format and datastores too.
4. Repeat above action for every Disk Group.
5. Proceed to the wizard and click Finish in Ready to complete.