vdiskmanager convert to esxi does not work

[continuum]

in WS 8.0.2 the help text for vdiskmanager states:

ex 6: vmware-vdiskmanager.exe -r sourceDisk.vmdk -t 4 -h esx-name.mycompany.com  -u username -f passwordfile "[storage1]/path/to/targetDisk.vmdk"

but it does not work.
Before I run the example command I do

echo Mypassword > passwordfile
on the windows-host and
mkdir /vmfs/volumes/storage1/path
on the esxi5 host

[peetz]

This example given in the help of vmware-vdiskmanager.exe just does not apply. You cannot upload vmdk-files to an ESX host with vmware-vdiskmanager.exe.

However, you can use the ovftool (that is also included in WS8) to up- and download complete VMs to an ESX or vCenter machine.

- Andreas

[continuum]

I have used similar commands with earlier versions so I see no reasons why it would no longer work ?

OVF-tool ? - oh dear - IMHO the most over-rated tool ever

[peetz]

Overrated? What's wrong with ovftool if it does the job?

[continuum]

I hate it.
It usually fails unless you use it with source-platform = target-platform
It simplifies the vmx and then obscures it
It only works against VMs with tools or you have to use ugly hacks

Actually you could also upload a monolithicSparse vmdk file and then import it with vmkfstools

the vmware-vdiskmanager function on the other hand used to upload and convert/import the vmdk in a single step