How to Import a Template?

[hitchcock4]

We now have two ESX setups - one for our new datacenter, and on for our smaller datacenter at our headquarters.

I have copied the individual files needed for the VM Templates - no need to create a new template, right?

In the Datastore Browser, when I attempt to add the *.vmtx file to the inventory i get an error stating "The operation is not supported on the object".

Any ideas of what I need to do differently? I am copying from ESX 3.02 to ESX 3.5 but I do not think that should matter. I did the same with 1 full virtual machine (while powered off, of course) and I was able to import that fine (after editing the .VMX file

Thanks

[khughes]

Sounds like you're doing it right. If you're having trouble with a template and are having success with a true VM, maybe you should try converting the template back to a VM then copy the VM over to the second site. If it registers there, then convert it back to a template on that site.

- Kyle

[kjb007 · Accepted solution]

Templates are a function of the virtual center, are you connected to VC, and browsing your datastore, or connected to the esx server directly?

-KjB

[hitchcock4]

KjB -- To be clear, I am using the " VMware Virtual Infrastructure Client" to connect, but there is not a centralized datastore, since this is 1 server (1 host). Therefore, from the VMware VI Client, I connect directly to that host.

From there, I can browse the datastore and I can right-click on the template and "Add to Inventory". It starts the wizard, but later end up with the message I showed above.

I will most likely convert it to a real VM, transfer it, then convert back to a template.

Thanks

[weinstein5]

as kjb said templeate are a virtual center feature - so you will need to have virtual center to be able to add it to your inventory - even if you convert back to a vm then load into standalone single host you will not be able to convert back to a template -

If you need to use templeates what you will have to do is have both ESX environemnt spart of the same Virtual Center environmen in their own datacenter inventory obkects - that way you would be able to have templates and be able to reploy to any ESX host -

[kjb007]

Right, you can't use templates without a vc. You can simulate the functionality, using converter, and with the template seen as a vm. Change template to a vm, and then run converter against it as often as you need. This is about as close to a "templatized deployment" that you'll have without vc.

-KjB

[hitchcock4]

Well, I see what you guys are saying now. I also can't convert a VM to a template.

I will most likely need to setup a VC to go along with the single-host we have in the local datacenter.

Thanks for the help.