Not a supported disk format (sparse VMDK version too old)

[talexb]

Good morning,

I'm getting the above error [Not a supported disk format (sparse VMDK version too old)] when loading a VMDK created using libguestfs and converted to VMDK format using VBoxManage convertfromraw, with an OVF file that has worked in the past.

When the VMDK is loaded without any OVF file (and a relatively sane, default hardware specification is chosen), it loads and boots correctly, suggesting that there's a problem with the OVF file.

How can I tackle this problem?

[continuum]

vmdks from Virtualbox use some descriptor entries that do not exist in VMware vmdks

please post the descriptor

[talexb]

Sorry -- the descriptor?

I'm re-building the VMDK using the ESX variant .. going to see if that solves it.

[continuum]

read my notes
http://sanbarrow.com/vmdk-howtos.html#editvmdk

[talexb]

# Disk DescriptorFile

version=1

CID=4f1447f1

parentCID=ffffffff

createType="monolithicSparse"

# Extent description

RW 83886080 SPARSE "disk.vmdk"

# The Disk Data Base

#DDB

ddb.virtualHWVersion = "4"

ddb.geometry.cylinders = "83220"

ddb.geometry.heads = "16"

ddb.geometry.sectors = "63"

ddb.adapterType = "ide"

[continuum]

esxi does not support that format - so you have to import it

try
vmkfstools <your sparse.vmdk>  <new.vmdk>

[talexb]

OK -- thanks.