How to import a virtual appliance to ESXi 3.5

[wagde]

Hi

I've been trying to import a virtual appliance I downloaded from the marketpalce to my ESX environment, I succeeded to add it to my 3.0.2 and 3.5 ESX servers by downloading the zip file to my PC, and getting it to the ESX servers by ftp to my PC, and then adding it to the inventroy after browsing the storage.

But When I installed the ESXi 3.5, I saw that it does not have a console (this is the idea of esxi 3.5). So I'm stuck now, and I don't know how to get the VA to the ESXi ? Is there any way to uplaod files to the ESX 3i, ?? ssh ? ftp ? scp ? anything. If not How administrators will deploy the VA they download into their ESXi ?

Thanx

Wagde

[admin]

In the VI Client, there should be an option to import a Virtual Appliance:

File --> Virtual Appliance --> Import

This will start a wizard that will transfer and convert the appliance.

[wagde]

Hi

This way you can import OVF Virtual appliances. But most of the VAs in the marketplace is not OVF formatted.

What I actually need is to import a vmx and vmdk files to the ESXi, Is there anyway doing it ?

Thanx

Wagde

[admin]

You can use the program VMware Converter:

Converter will allow you to import virtual machines in a number of formats into ESX.

Or perhaps if you browse the datastore from the VI Client, is there a button for uploading files? (an up-arrow symbol)

[AlexNG_]

Hi Wagde,

As appk said, upload vmx and vmdk(s) files to esx. If they're in 2gb format, use vmkfstools to import as a solid file (the vmdk files). After that, place files in a folder on the vmfs filesystem. Next what i would do is edit with vi the vmx file, just to be sure that everithing is ok. And finally, with VIC, browse the datastore and register the vmx file!

AlexNG

[wagde]

Hi

how can I use vi ? I dont have a shell, right ?

Is there any way to use tar -zxvf?

Thanx

Wagde

[admin]

You can use the Remote Command-Line Inteface (RCLI) for running certain commands on ESXi.

One of the commands that may be of interest to you is vifs which allows the upload/download of files.

The interface is available as an installable or as a virtual appliance. See the following link for more info:

http://pubs.vmware.com/vi3i_i35/server_config/wwhelp/wwhimpl/common/html/wwhelp.htm?context=server_c...

.

You can also access a "linux like" console which is a bash shell utilizing busybox.

To access the console, go to the physical server, press Alt+F1, type unsupported (wont be displayed), and press Return.

You will then be prompted for the root password which will log you into the "console".

Logging into and using the console is not supported by VMware.

See the following KB for further information: