Promotion - OVA/OVF

• Its a template.
• ova ( Open Virtual Appliance )
• ovf ( Open Virtualization Format )
• Its a pre-configured virtual machine.
• OS , App , IP --> all will be confifured, you just need to deplopy . Thats it .

• Once you export the VM in OVF , it will create 4 files.
• Then you can import , in another vCenter.

• VMware Aria --> Managing vCenter ( like Alerts )

How a VM can be migrated ?

• One ESX to another ESX.
• One cluster to another cluster.
• One vCenter to another vCenter.

Important Points to Remember

• OVF is used to export the VM and it will download as 4 types of format.
• If any of these files are missed , then it can't be imported.
• It can be stored in any pendrive or hard-disc and it can be imported to the other vCenter.
• VM should be powder-off and then only the OVF template export option will be avaible.

• Importing an OVF file into vCenter does not strictly have to be done from a jump server but doing so is a highly recommended best practice.

Import the OVF

• Import the OVF into one ESX.

Whether BOTH are same

• You are functionally correct, as OVA and OVF contain the exact same virtual machine data and serve the exact same deployment purpose, but they differ in how they are packaged.