Would you like to learn how to export a virtual machine on Vmware ESXi? In this tutorial, we are going to show you all the steps required to export a Vmware virtual machine.

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Tutorial - Vmware Export Virtual Machine on Vsphere

First, you need to access the Vmware ESXi console.

Open the VSphere software, enter the IP address of your Vmware ESXi server and access the console.

Vmware Vsphere

On the prompt screen, enter the administrative login information.

Factory default access information:
Username: root
Password:

After a successful login, the Vmware console menu will be displayed.

Now, you need to shut down the virtual machine that you want to export.

Keep in mind that you need to gracefully shutdown the virtual machine.

Next, you need to select the offline virtual machine and click on the following menu option:

File > Export > Export OVF Template

vmware-esxi 6 export virtual machine

On the Export OVF template screen:

Enter a name to the exported image.

Enter a directory to the exported image.

Select the format: Single OVA file

Click on the OK button to start the image exporting process.

In our example, a Linux virtual machine was exported as the file LINUX.OVA.

vmware esxi 6 export ova image

Congratulations, you have exported a Vmware Virtual Machine as an OVA file.

Tutorial - Vmware Export Virtual Machine on Web Interface

First, you need to access the Vmware web interface.

Open a browser software, enter the IP address of your Vmware ESXi server and access web interface.

vmware web interface

On the prompt screen, enter the administrative login information.

Factory default access information:
Username: root
Password:

After a successful login, the Vmware console menu will be displayed.

Now, you need to shut down the virtual machine that you want to export.

Keep in mind that you need to gracefully shutdown the virtual machine.

Next, you need to select the offline virtual machine and click on the following menu option:

Action > Export

Vmware web export virtual machine

The first warning message should be presented.

Click on the Ok button to start the download of the OVF file.

An OVF file is a platform-independent format for virtual machines.

vmware warning

The second warning message should be presented.

Click on the Ok button to start the download of the VMDK file.

A VMDK file stores the contents of a VMware virtual machine hard disk

vmware warning

Congratulations, you have exported a Vmware Virtual Machine as an OVF file.