Import/Export a vApp – VCP4 Objective 5.3

While working through the VCP4 exam objectives I found a section on vApps. Specifically the line item around “Import/Export a Virtual Appliance”. Ignoring the rest, here is how you import and export vApps. Warning, this post is screenshot heavy.

Importing

There are two ways of going about this. “Deploy OVF” and “Browse VA Marketplace”. If your vendor has already provided you the URL for the OVF file, or you happen to already posses the OVF file, Otherwise, you can browse the VA (Virtual Appliance) Marketplace within the vSphere client. Here is deploying from OVF:

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We’ll be deploying from a URL

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Confirming the details:

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Accept the EULA (Clickable License FTW!)

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Give it a name:

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Select a resource pool & datastore:

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Summary and Finish:

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Get some coffee… this part takes a while

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And done:

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Exporting vApps

Fortunately, exporting a vApp is not nearly as cumbersome as the import process. Select a VM in your infrastructure, and click “file > export > export OVF template…”

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From there you are prompted with some options:

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Finally hit OK and wait.

If you have any questions or comments, drop us a line in the comments section.

6 thoughts on “Import/Export a vApp – VCP4 Objective 5.3

  • Ok. So my problem is that i need to give some1 permision to export an ovf template. We have some kind of vps hosting service and we use vmware management webservices to give them access. They use the webclient to access their machines (to power on/off/reset/mount CD’s etc) This rules are based on a custom role that we designed. The problem is that now when we try to use the export feature it gives a connection error. i guess that it has someting to do with some ports that need opening from the internet for our clients. the fact is that all the vsphere hosts have their 902 port opened in order for the console to work. what other port needs to be opened?

  • Ok. So my problem is that i need to give some1 permision to export an ovf template. We have some kind of vps hosting service and we use vmware management webservices to give them access. They use the webclient to access their machines (to power on/off/reset/mount CD's etc) This rules are based on a custom role that we designed. The problem is that now when we try to use the export feature it gives a connection error. i guess that it has someting to do with some ports that need opening from the internet for our clients. the fact is that all the vsphere hosts have their 902 port opened in order for the console to work. what other port needs to be opened?

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