Deploying OVF via Host UI gives error: "A required disk image was missing".

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

While deploying OVF via Host UI, the wizard gives error: "A required disk image was missing".

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 6.5
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0.x

Cause

• While downloading OVF, nvram is unchecked and not included in the ovf.
• The OVF descriptor still has a reference for nvram file.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!--Generated by VMware ESX Server, User: root, UTC time: yyyy-dd-mm-->
<Envelope vmw:buildId="build-20842819" xmlns="http://schemas.dmtf.org/ovf/envelope/1" xmlns:cim="http://schemas.dmtf.org/wbem/wscim/1/common" xmlns:ovf="http://schemas.dmtf.org/ovf/envelope/1" xmlns:rasd="http://schemas.dmtf.org/wbem/wscim/1/cim-schema/2/CIM_ResourceAllocationSettingData" xmlns:vmw="http://www.vmware.com/schema/ovf" xmlns:vssd="http://schemas.dmtf.org/wbem/wscim/1/cim-schema/2/CIM_VirtualSystemSettingData" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
  <References>
    <File ovf:href="VM-0.vmdk" ovf:id="file1" ovf:size="0"/>
    <File ovf:href="VM.nvram" ovf:id="file2" ovf:size="0"/>
  </References>

 

Resolution

Workaround:
There are two resolutions for this issue.

1. Remove the reference for nvram from OVF descriptor file. OVF wizard would no longer look for nvram file.
2. Download the nvram file for the VM while downloading the OVF.

Additional Information

Impact/Risks:

• The error does not block user from deploying OVF.
• Click on Finish to deploy the OVF.