OVF Tool

The tool is used to create standard Open Virtualisation Format (OVF) format files from source virtual machine VMX or OVF files. The source can be stored on file storage or can be accessed via an ESX or vCentre.

Download and install the tool (link to download at the bottom of http://www.vmware.com/go/ovf/)

Syntax

This is just some summary info, for the full plethora of options use ovftool --help

ovftool  <source> <target> <options> 

Where <source> can be...

• Path to a .ovf or .vmx file (or folder containing one)
• Path to a VM via an ESX or vCentre

Where <target> can be...

• Path to a .ovf or .vmx file (or folder that will contain a .ovf)
• Path to destination on either an ESX or vCentre

Where <options> could be...

• --compress n - Compress target disk files (1 - lowest, 9 - highest)
• --diskMode mode - Target disk format (monolithicSpare, monolithicFlat; or if dest is via vCentre can also use thin, thick)
• --name name - Target machine name (by the source machine name is used)
• and much much more

Examples

Create From Copied VM Files

Assumes you've got all the files for a virtual machine in a folder (ie you've downloaded from a VMFS)

• ovftool C:\Users\me\Downloads\MyVM\MyVM.vmx C:\Users\me\Downloads\NewOVF