How to export a VM or Container as an OVA image file?

[mjdtjm]

Hi there
I need to export some of my VMs and Containers as an OVA image file.
How should I do it?

 

[oguz]

hi,

qemu-img convert can be used to convert the disks to vmdk
and then use virtualbox to convert it to ova.

 

[mjdtjm]

This works for disk images. But, what about the VM/Container configurations?!

 

[aPollO]

I'm also looking for best practice to export VM for VMWare.

I'm currently doing it as follows

1. Convert from QCOW2 to VMDK with qemu-img convert
2. Convert VMDK Format with vmkfstools utility
3. Create VM without disk in nested ESXi 6.7
4. Add the converted VMDK to this VM in ESXI
5. Export the VM woth ovftool to ovf format

The way with virtualbox always end within trouble with importing the OVA Image into ESXi because missing hardware tags and other problems.

My goal is to delete the nested ESXi and do all steps directly within Proxmox. I want to script the whole process to safe time because it is very common that i need to convert VMs to ESXi format for customers.

 

[oguz]

This works for disk images. But, what about the VM/Container configurations?!

you'll need to configure it manually

My goal is to delete the nested ESXi and do all steps directly within Proxmox. I want to script the whole process to safe time because it is very common that i need to convert VMs to ESXi format for customers.

i don't think you can do all of it from proxmox since esxi is proprietary system, so you probably need it (although it might be possible, i'm just not aware of any easy method)

 

[medicineman25]

Can you provide some insight as to why such an open standard is not supported in proxmox? From where I'm standing it should absolutely be supported, utilities at the least should be available for subscription members.

Yes, I would pay for this feature.

 

[aPollO]

Can you provide some insight as to why such an open standard is not supported in proxmox? From where I'm standing it should absolutely be supported, utilities at the least should be available for subscription members.

Yes, I would pay for this feature.

Can you tell me any other product that support export to OVA and import to VMWare works well? OVA created with virtualbox are not import succesfully for me.

 

[SpongeB0B]

Hi,

I would like too to be able to export my VM (snapshot, backup) in OVa or other standard format.

qemu-img convert
Seem the tool to convert, great but how can I can access to my VM actual files ?

can qemu-img, can convert, snapshot and backup ?

I have one vm for the moment that is stored under LVM-Thin\data how can I mount it in the shell ?

Thanks.

 

[firth]

Can you tell me any other product that support export to OVA and import to VMWare works well? OVA created with virtualbox are not import succesfully for me.

Nutanix