Howto Convert from VirtualBox to VMWare ESX

The following procedure was used to convert a virtual machine from Oracle VirtualBox to VMWare. In most cases, administrators are trying to convert from VirtualBox to VMWare.

Export the Appliance

Export a VirtualBox Appliance from within VirtualBox.

File, Export Appliance...
Check box for "Write legacy OVF 0.9"
Choose a location and save.

After the export is complete, you will have three files; your_appliance.ovf, your_appliance.vmdk, and your_appliance.mf. When you run ovftool later in this procedure, you will get an “SHA1 digest of file yourappliance.ovf does not match manifest” error. Delete or rename the manifest file (.mf), which is generated with the appliance. This will bypass the error.

Edit the OVF

The next step is to edit the .OVF File that is generated with the appliance. Update OVF Format to the following:

ovf:format=”http://www.vmware.com/interfaces/specifications/vmdk.html#streamOptimized”

 

Change the Virtual System Type to one of the following:

<vssd:VirtualSystemType>vmx-07</vssd:VirtualSystemType> (for a esx 4.0)
<vssd:VirtualSystemType>vmx-04</vssd:VirtualSystemType> (for esx 3.5.x and 4.0 hosts)

 

Change the sound card rasd item to the following:

<Item ovf:required=”false”>
<rasd:Caption>sound</rasd:Caption>
<rasd:Description>Sound Card</rasd:Description>
<rasd:InstanceId>7</rasd:InstanceId>
<rasd:ResourceType>35</rasd:ResourceType>
<rasd:ResourceSubType>ensoniq1371</rasd:ResourceSubType>
<rasd:AutomaticAllocation>false</rasd:AutomaticAllocation>
<rasd:AddressOnParent>3</rasd:AddressOnParent>
</Item>

 

IDE to SCSI (Skip if you are converting to vmx for workstation). Disks on IDE Controllers are only supported by newer VMware products so it will be a good idea to add the following to the OVF:

<Item>
<rasd:Description>SCSI Controller</rasd:Description>
<rasd:InstanceId>10</rasd:InstanceId>
<rasd:ResourceType>6</rasd:ResourceType>
<rasd:ResourceSubType>lsilogic</rasd:ResourceSubType>
<rasd:Address>1</rasd:Address>
<rasd:BusNumber>1</rasd:BusNumber>
</Item>

 

and change the disk to point to this by changing the parent in the disk rasd element e.g.
Change parent from 3 to 10 as shown below

       
<Item>
<rasd:Caption>disk1</rasd:Caption>
<rasd:Description>Disk Image</rasd:Description>
<rasd:InstanceId>8</rasd:InstanceId>
<rasd:ResourceType>17</rasd:ResourceType>
<rasd:HostResource>/disk/vmdisk1</rasd:HostResource>
<rasd:Parent>10</rasd:Parent>
<rasd:AddressOnParent>0</rasd:AddressOnParent>
</Item>

 

VMWare OVF Tool

Install VMWare OVF Tool 1.0. VMware OVF Tool is a command line utility that supports importing and exporting of OVF packages for a wide variety of VMware platforms, including VMware Workstation, VMware Server 2.0, vSphere 4.0, and earlier versions of VMware ESX Server and VMware VirtualCenter.

Download OVF Tool Download (Requires account, Windows and Linux versions available). Visit the OVF Tool Community for OVF documentation and discussions.

The next step is to convert the appliance to VMWare using OVF Tool. With direct access to a ESX host, use the following:

ovftool your_appliance.ovf vi://USERNAME:PASSWORD@HOSTNAME:8333/

Or to run locally, use the following:

Start, Run..., type CMD and press OK

Then change directories to the location you installed OVFTool and execute the following:

ovftool your_appliance.ovf your_new_appliance.vmx

Finally

The export should run and will show a percentage status. The final step is to import to VMWare. You can accomplish this many different ways as there are many conversion and import tools available for the various VMWare products.

Leave a Reply

➜