OVF Tool Command Syntax to Export and Deploy OVA/OVF Packages

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides sample syntax to export and import packages in ESXi and vCenter Server using the OVF Tool

 

Environment

VMware vSphere 6.x
VMware vSphere 7.x
VMware vSphere 8.x
VMware vSphere 9.0

Cause

Exporting OVF templates enables the creation of virtual appliances for future import by users, while deploying OVF or OVA templates allows the addition of pre-configured virtual machines to the vCenter Server or ESXi inventory.

Resolution

Install and access OVF Tool

1. Download ovftool from the Broadcom Developers Portal.
2. Open Windows command prompt with administrator privileges
3. Navigate to the directory where ovftool is installed (Default location: "C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware OVF Tool")  
4. Export from ESXi:

   ovftool.exe --noSSLVerify vi://Host_IP/VM_name "D:\Exported_VM.ova"

5. Export from vCenter:

   ovftool.exe --noSSLVerify "vi://[email protected]/Datacenter/vm/VM Folder/VM_Name" "D:\Exported_VM.ova"

6. Deploy ova/ovf templates to ESXi:

   ovftool.exe --noSSLVerify --name=VM_Name --datastore=Datastore_name --diskMode=Disk_mode_options --network="PortGroup" C:\Package.ova vi://[email protected]

7. Deploy ova/ovf templates to vCenter:

   ovftool.exe --noSSLVerify --name=VM_Name --datastore=Datastore_name --diskMode=Disk_mode_options --network="PortGroup" C:\Package.ova vi://[email protected]/Datacenter_name/host/Cluster_name/esxi.example.com

Note:
In the above example, the string "host" remains constant and is not to be modified. The host where the template needs to be deployed at is updated at the end.

A list of available flags usable with the OVF Tool can be found in the Command-Line Options.

Exporting directly from ESXi can bypass vCenter management session timeouts

Additional Information

Unable to deploy OVF using vSphere Client in vCenter Server 7.0 when an HTTPS Proxy is configured