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How To Convert Virtual Machines Between VirtualBox and VMware PDF

This document provides instructions for converting virtual machines between VirtualBox and VMware. It explains that both support the Open Virtualization Format (OVF/OVA), so you can export a VM from one program in this format and import it into the other. However, compatibility issues may occur, so reinstalling the guest OS may be necessary in some cases. Step-by-step instructions are provided for exporting from VirtualBox to VMware and from VMware to VirtualBox. The process involves exporting to OVF/OVA, importing in the other program, and uninstalling/installing the appropriate virtualization tools.

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63 views

How To Convert Virtual Machines Between VirtualBox and VMware PDF

This document provides instructions for converting virtual machines between VirtualBox and VMware. It explains that both support the Open Virtualization Format (OVF/OVA), so you can export a VM from one program in this format and import it into the other. However, compatibility issues may occur, so reinstalling the guest OS may be necessary in some cases. Step-by-step instructions are provided for exporting from VirtualBox to VMware and from VMware to VirtualBox. The process involves exporting to OVF/OVA, importing in the other program, and uninstalling/installing the appropriate virtualization tools.

Uploaded by

Bart
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How To Convert Virtual Machines Between

VirtualBox and VMware


by Chris Hoffman on October 1st, 2012

Migrating to another virtual machine program can be intimidating. if you already have
your virtual machines set up they way you like them, you don’t necessarily have to
install them from scratch – you can migrate your existing virtual machines.

VirtualBox and VMware use different virtual machine formats, but each supports the
standard Open Virtualization Format. Convert your existing virtual machine to OVF or
OVA and you’ll be able to import it into another virtual machine program.

Unfortunately, this may not always work perfectly, as VirtualBox and VMware both seem
to use slightly different OVA/OVF implementations that aren’t entirely compatible. If this
doesn’t work, you may want to reinstall your virtual machine’s guest operating system
from scratch.

VirtualBox to VMware
Before migrating a virtual machine from VirtualBox to VMware, ensure it’s “powered off”
in VirtualBox – not suspended. If it’s suspended, launch the virtual machine and shut it
down.
Click the File menu in VirtualBox and select Export Appliance.

Select the virtual machine you want to export and provide a location for it.
VirtualBox will create a nOpen Virtualization Format Archive (OVA file) that VMware can
import. This may take some time, depending on the size of your virtual machine’s disk
file.

To import the OVA file in VMware, click the Open a Virtual Machine option and browse
to your OVA file.
VirtualBox and VMware aren’t perfectly compatible, so you’ll probably receive a warning
message saying the the file “did not pass OVF specification performance” – but if you
click Retry, the virtual machine should import and function properly.

After the process completes, you can boot the virtual machine in VMware, uninstall
VirtualBox Guest Additions from the Control Panel inside the virtual machine, and install
VMware Tools from the virtual machine’s menu.

VMware to VirtualBox
Before migrating a virtual machine from VMware to VirtualBox, ensure it’s “powered off”
in VMware – not suspended. If it’s suspended, launch the virtual machine and shut it
down.

Next, browse to the OVFTool folder. If you’re using VMware Player, you’ll find it at
C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Player\OVFTool. Hold Shift, right-click inside
the OVFTool folder, and select Open command window here.
Run ovftool with the following syntax:

ovftool source.vmx export.ovf

For example, if we wanted to convert the virtual machine located at


C:\Users\NAME\Documents\Virtual Machines\Windows 7 x64\Windows 7 x64.vmx and
create a new OVF file at C:\Users\NAME\export.ovf, we’d run the following command:

ovftool “C:\Users\NAME\Documents\Virtual Machines\Windows 7 x64\Windows 7


x64.vmx” C:\Users\NAME\export.ovf

If you receive a “failed to open disk” error, it’s likely that the virtual machine is still
running or wasn’t shut down properly – boot the virtual machine and perform a shut
down.
Once the process is complete, you can import the .ovf file into VirtualBox. Use the
Import Appliance option in the File menu.

After the process completes, you can boot the virtual machine, uninstall VMware Tools,
and install VirtualBox’s Guest Additions.

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