cd \/<\/code> first.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 2: Check VM Configuration and Actual Disk Usage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Before converting anything, check how much data is actually on the disks. Proxmox uses LVM thin provisioning, which means a 500GB disk might only contain 1GB of real data \u2014 and your OVA will reflect that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
qm config 300<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nscsi0: local-lvm:vm-300-disk-1,size=150G\nscsi1: local-lvm:vm-300-disk-2,size=150G\nscsi2: local-lvm:vm-300-disk-3,size=500G\nscsi3: local-lvm:vm-300-disk-4,size=100G<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nNow check actual usage per disk:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
lvs \/dev\/pve\/vm-300-disk-1\nlvs \/dev\/pve\/vm-300-disk-2\nlvs \/dev\/pve\/vm-300-disk-3\nlvs \/dev\/pve\/vm-300-disk-4<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nvm-300-disk-1 150.00g 24.68% \u2192 ~37G actual\nvm-300-disk-2 150.00g 10.37% \u2192 ~15G actual\nvm-300-disk-3 500.00g 0.02% \u2192 ~0.1G actual\nvm-300-disk-4 100.00g 0.09% \u2192 ~0.1G actual<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nIn our case: ~52GB of real data instead of 900GB<\/strong>. The OVA will be roughly that size.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAlso check where you have free space \u2014 avoid \/tmp<\/code>, it’s tmpfs and typically limited to 2GB:<\/p>\n\n\n\ndf -h\n# \/dev\/mapper\/pve-local--backup 2.9T 2.1M 2.8T \/var\/backup \u2190 use this<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nStep 3: Stop the VM and Convert Disks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u26a0\ufe0f Always stop the VM before exporting.<\/strong> Exporting a running VM risks data corruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\nqm stop 300\nqm status 300\n# status: stopped<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nCreate the export folder and convert each disk to streamOptimized VMDK. This format compresses blocks and skips empty space \u2014 it’s designed exactly for transport:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
mkdir -p \/var\/backup\/vm-300-export\n\nqemu-img convert -p -f raw -O vmdk \\\n -o subformat=streamOptimized \\\n \/dev\/pve\/vm-300-disk-1 \\\n \/var\/backup\/vm-300-export\/vm-300-disk-1.vmdk\n\nqemu-img convert -p -f raw -O vmdk \\\n -o subformat=streamOptimized \\\n \/dev\/pve\/vm-300-disk-2 \\\n \/var\/backup\/vm-300-export\/vm-300-disk-2.vmdk\n\nqemu-img convert -p -f raw -O vmdk \\\n -o subformat=streamOptimized \\\n \/dev\/pve\/vm-300-disk-3 \\\n \/var\/backup\/vm-300-export\/vm-300-disk-3.vmdk\n\nqemu-img convert -p -f raw -O vmdk \\\n -o subformat=streamOptimized \\\n \/dev\/pve\/vm-300-disk-4 \\\n \/var\/backup\/vm-300-export\/vm-300-disk-4.vmdk<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\ud83d\udca1 Skip the EFI disk and TPM disk \u2014 ESXi recreates them automatically on import.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Verify the result:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ls -lh \/var\/backup\/vm-300-export\/\n# 23G vm-300-disk-1.vmdk\n# 16G vm-300-disk-2.vmdk\n# 70M vm-300-disk-3.vmdk\n# 15M vm-300-disk-4.vmdk<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nStep 4: Write the OVF Descriptor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This is the part nobody documents properly. The OVF file is an XML descriptor that tells vCenter what the VM looks like. If the section order is wrong, vCenter will refuse the import with cryptic errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The correct order is always: References<\/code> \u2192 DiskSection<\/code> \u2192 NetworkSection<\/code> \u2192 VirtualSystem<\/code>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\ncat > \/var\/backup\/vm-300-export\/vm-300.ovf << 'EOF'\n<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n<Envelope xmlns=\"http:\/\/schemas.dmtf.org\/ovf\/envelope\/1\"\n xmlns:ovf=\"http:\/\/schemas.dmtf.org\/ovf\/envelope\/1\"\n xmlns:vmw=\"http:\/\/www.vmware.com\/schema\/ovf\"\n xmlns:rasd=\"http:\/\/schemas.dmtf.org\/wbem\/wscim\/1\/cim-schema\/2\/CIM_ResourceAllocationSettingData\"\n xmlns:vssd=\"http:\/\/schemas.dmtf.org\/wbem\/wscim\/1\/cim-schema\/2\/CIM_VirtualSystemSettingData\">\n <References>\n <File ovf:id=\"disk-1\" ovf:href=\"vm-300-disk-1.vmdk\"\/>\n <File ovf:id=\"disk-2\" ovf:href=\"vm-300-disk-2.vmdk\"\/>\n <File ovf:id=\"disk-3\" ovf:href=\"vm-300-disk-3.vmdk\"\/>\n <File ovf:id=\"disk-4\" ovf:href=\"vm-300-disk-4.vmdk\"\/>\n <\/References>\n <DiskSection>\n <Info>Virtual disk information<\/Info>\n <Disk ovf:diskId=\"disk-1\" ovf:fileRef=\"disk-1\" ovf:capacity=\"161061273600\"\n ovf:format=\"http:\/\/www.vmware.com\/interfaces\/specifications\/vmdk.html#streamOptimized\"\/>\n <Disk ovf:diskId=\"disk-2\" ovf:fileRef=\"disk-2\" ovf:capacity=\"161061273600\"\n ovf:format=\"http:\/\/www.vmware.com\/interfaces\/specifications\/vmdk.html#streamOptimized\"\/>\n <Disk ovf:diskId=\"disk-3\" ovf:fileRef=\"disk-3\" ovf:capacity=\"536870912000\"\n ovf:format=\"http:\/\/www.vmware.com\/interfaces\/specifications\/vmdk.html#streamOptimized\"\/>\n <Disk ovf:diskId=\"disk-4\" ovf:fileRef=\"disk-4\" ovf:capacity=\"107374182400\"\n ovf:format=\"http:\/\/www.vmware.com\/interfaces\/specifications\/vmdk.html#streamOptimized\"\/>\n <\/DiskSection>\n <NetworkSection>\n <Info>List of logical networks<\/Info>\n <Network ovf:name=\"VM Network\">\n <Description>VM Network<\/Description>\n <\/Network>\n <\/NetworkSection>\n <VirtualSystem ovf:id=\"d-s9999g\">\n <Info>Windows Server 2025 Standard<\/Info>\n <Name>d-s9999g<\/Name>\n <OperatingSystemSection ovf:id=\"112\">\n <Info>Guest OS<\/Info>\n <Description>windows2025srv_64Guest<\/Description>\n <\/OperatingSystemSection>\n <VirtualHardwareSection>\n <Info>Virtual hardware<\/Info>\n <System>\n <vssd:ElementName>Virtual Hardware Family<\/vssd:ElementName>\n <vssd:InstanceID>0<\/vssd:InstanceID>\n <vssd:VirtualSystemType>vmx-19<\/vssd:VirtualSystemType>\n <\/System>\n <Item>\n <rasd:ElementName>4 vCPU<\/rasd:ElementName>\n <rasd:InstanceID>1<\/rasd:InstanceID>\n <rasd:ResourceType>3<\/rasd:ResourceType>\n <rasd:VirtualQuantity>4<\/rasd:VirtualQuantity>\n <vmw:CoresPerSocket ovf:required=\"false\">4<\/vmw:CoresPerSocket>\n <\/Item>\n <Item>\n <rasd:ElementName>16384 MB RAM<\/rasd:ElementName>\n <rasd:InstanceID>2<\/rasd:InstanceID>\n <rasd:ResourceType>4<\/rasd:ResourceType>\n <rasd:VirtualQuantity>16384<\/rasd:VirtualQuantity>\n <rasd:AllocationUnits>byte * 2^20<\/rasd:AllocationUnits>\n <\/Item>\n <Item>\n <rasd:ElementName>UEFI Boot<\/rasd:ElementName>\n <rasd:InstanceID>3<\/rasd:InstanceID>\n <rasd:ResourceType>1<\/rasd:ResourceType>\n <vmw:Config ovf:required=\"false\" vmw:key=\"firmware\" vmw:value=\"efi\"\/>\n <\/Item>\n <Item>\n <rasd:ElementName>SCSI Controller 0<\/rasd:ElementName>\n <rasd:InstanceID>4<\/rasd:InstanceID>\n <rasd:ResourceType>6<\/rasd:ResourceType>\n <rasd:ResourceSubType>VirtualSCSI<\/rasd:ResourceSubType>\n <rasd:Address>0<\/rasd:Address>\n <\/Item>\n <Item>\n <rasd:ElementName>Hard Disk 1<\/rasd:ElementName>\n <rasd:HostResource>ovf:\/disk\/disk-1<\/rasd:HostResource>\n <rasd:InstanceID>5<\/rasd:InstanceID>\n <rasd:Parent>4<\/rasd:Parent>\n <rasd:AddressOnParent>0<\/rasd:AddressOnParent>\n <rasd:ResourceType>17<\/rasd:ResourceType>\n <\/Item>\n <Item>\n <rasd:ElementName>Hard Disk 2<\/rasd:ElementName>\n <rasd:HostResource>ovf:\/disk\/disk-2<\/rasd:HostResource>\n <rasd:InstanceID>6<\/rasd:InstanceID>\n <rasd:Parent>4<\/rasd:Parent>\n <rasd:AddressOnParent>1<\/rasd:AddressOnParent>\n <rasd:ResourceType>17<\/rasd:ResourceType>\n <\/Item>\n <Item>\n <rasd:ElementName>Hard Disk 3<\/rasd:ElementName>\n <rasd:HostResource>ovf:\/disk\/disk-3<\/rasd:HostResource>\n <rasd:InstanceID>7<\/rasd:InstanceID>\n <rasd:Parent>4<\/rasd:Parent>\n <rasd:AddressOnParent>2<\/rasd:AddressOnParent>\n <rasd:ResourceType>17<\/rasd:ResourceType>\n <\/Item>\n <Item>\n <rasd:ElementName>Hard Disk 4<\/rasd:ElementName>\n <rasd:HostResource>ovf:\/disk\/disk-4<\/rasd:HostResource>\n <rasd:InstanceID>8<\/rasd:InstanceID>\n <rasd:Parent>4<\/rasd:Parent>\n <rasd:AddressOnParent>3<\/rasd:AddressOnParent>\n <rasd:ResourceType>17<\/rasd:ResourceType>\n <\/Item>\n <Item>\n <rasd:ElementName>Network Adapter<\/rasd:ElementName>\n <rasd:InstanceID>9<\/rasd:InstanceID>\n <rasd:ResourceType>10<\/rasd:ResourceType>\n <rasd:ResourceSubType>E1000<\/rasd:ResourceSubType>\n <rasd:Connection>VM Network<\/rasd:Connection>\n <\/Item>\n <\/VirtualHardwareSection>\n <\/VirtualSystem>\n<\/Envelope>\nEOF<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nStep 5: Build the OVA with ovftool<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now let ovftool do the packaging. It validates the OVF, calculates checksums, and produces a proper OVA:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
cd \/var\/backup\/vm-300-export\novftool vm-300.ovf \/var\/backup\/vm-300.ova<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nOpening OVF source: vm-300.ovf\nOpening OVA target: \/var\/backup\/vm-300.ova\nWriting OVA package: \/var\/backup\/vm-300.ova\nTransfer Completed\nCompleted successfully<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\ud83d\udca1 Warnings about \"Wrong file size\" and \"No manifest\" are expected \u2014 ovftool corrects them in the final OVA. As long as you see Completed successfully<\/code> you're good.<\/p>\n\n\n\nls -lh \/var\/backup\/vm-300.ova\n# -rw------- 1 root root 40G Jun 3 14:05 \/var\/backup\/vm-300.ova<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n40GB instead of 900GB. Not bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 6: Import into vCenter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Copy the OVA to your local machine via WinSCP, then in vSphere Client:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Right-click on the cluster\/host \u2192 Deploy OVF Template<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Select the
.ova<\/code> file<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Follow the wizard \u2014 name, datastore, network<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- At the network step, map \"VM Network\"<\/strong> to whatever portgroup exists in your environment \u2014 it doesn't need to match exactly, vCenter lets you remap it<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Choose Thin Provision<\/strong> if storage is limited, or Thick<\/strong> for production performance<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Done<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Troubleshooting \u2014 Errors You Will Hit<\/h2>\n\n\n\nValue 'VM Network' of Connection element not found in NetworkSection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your OVF is missing the <NetworkSection><\/code> block, or it's in the wrong position. Add it between DiskSection<\/code> and VirtualSystem<\/code>, then rebuild the OVA.<\/p>\n\n\n\nELEMENT_REQUIRED: Element 'References' expected<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The <References><\/code> section is not first in the OVF. Fix the order: References \u2192 DiskSection \u2192 NetworkSection \u2192 VirtualSystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNeed to fix an OVA without rebuilding from scratch?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Extract it with 7-Zip, edit the .ovf<\/code> in Notepad++, then repackage from PowerShell \u2014 note that 7-Zip cannot create a valid OVA, only tar<\/code> can:<\/p>\n\n\n\ncd C:\\Users\\you\\Desktop\\vm-folder\ntar cvf C:\\Users\\you\\Desktop\\vm-fixed.ova vm.ovf disk1.vmdk disk2.vmdk<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\u26a0\ufe0f The OVF must always be the first file in the archive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Migrating from Proxmox to ESXi isn't as well-documented as the reverse, but it's entirely doable with the right tools and a properly structured OVF. The two things that will save you the most time: use streamOptimized<\/code> to avoid copying terabytes of empty disk space, and get the OVF section order right the first time so vCenter doesn't reject it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you found this useful \u2014 or if you're also stubbornly going against the current \u2014 drop a comment below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Everyone is migrating from VMware to Proxmox. Blog posts, Reddit threads, YouTube tutorials \u2014 the internet is flooded with guides on escaping VMware licensing costs and embracing the open-source promised land. It’s practically a movement. And then there’s me, going the other way. While the rest of the world is celebrating their freedom from vCenter, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4802,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4798","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-linux"],"yoast_head":"\n
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