[How To] Import/Export OVA Files in VirtualBox

[How To] Import/Export OVA Files in VirtualBox

People who do Virtualization can sure as shooting be accustomed these 2 words. VirtualBox and VMWare. And if we tend to compare VirtualBox and VMWare we are going to realize VMWare additional easy and powerful. Here during this article, we tend to are getting to illustrate the steps to Import and export OVA files in VirtualBox.

VirtualBox could be a cross-platform virtualization application. It makes our laptop capable of running multiple in operation systems within multiple virtual machines at constant time. To be clear thought-about you've got a macintosh. With the assistance of VirtualBox, you'll run Windows OS, Linux OS or any OS in you macintosh aboard all of your existing applications. the quantity of virtual machines that we will have in our computer directly depends upon the space and memory of the pc.

VirtualBox is solely and extremely effective. they'll be run on any device from the tiny embedded systems to desktop category computers and even in cloud environments.

While making a replacement virtual machine in VirtualBox, the default file format is .VDI. There are predefined choices to use the VMDK or VHD format, however there's not associate degree choice to import or export the VM of OVA format files.
import export ova files in virtual box

And a very important info is that OVF – 

Open Virtualization Format I one amongst the ways to standardize virtual appliance for importation and commerce them in varied virtualization code.

Ova format is nothing however one file distribution of the OVF hold on within the TAR format. during this guide, we tend to are getting to see a way to Import/Export OVA files in VirtualBox.
Importing OVA file to VirtualBox
Simply follow the step by step mentioned guide below once you are prepared along with your OVA file that you're getting to transfer in VirtualBox.
Open the menu bar & navigate to File>>Import Appliance.
Click the “Open Appliance” button and choose your OVA file that you wish to import.
After choosing the file click the “Next” button.
A new window can seem, and it might show the configuration of the present virtual appliance. we will then scroll through the total configuration list. And if we tend to would like to form any amendment we will double click any item. Double clicking it'll either check or uncheck the box. At the top click “Import”.
Virtualbox can then lookout of importation the chosen virtual machine file into our library. Usually, the importation time takes but a second and to be precise the importing time entirely depends upon the OVA file size.
Once the importation method is over, we tend to can be ready to see the new VM on our list.
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Exporting VDI to OVA file
A similar reasonably procedure is to be followed to export OVA file.

Note: - whereas commerce from VirtualBox certify to settle on OVF Version two and not Version one because the Version 1 can generate errors since it's not compatible.

Now we want export a VDI file that is that the default format for Virtualbox to associate degree OVA file so it will be accustomed re-import in another virtual machine.
Navigate to the menu bar and head towards File>>Export Appliance.
Now it'll raise U.S.A. to pick the disk image that we wish to export. it'd be the no matter OS we tend to are mistreatment say Ubuntu, Windows 7, Windows 8, etc.; It’s conjointly potential to pick multiple choices at one time.
Next, we've got to settle on the trail and name wherever the OVA file must be exported. we tend to may notice that Virtualbox, mechanically affix a .ova extension to the top of the file.
Note: - it's potential to vary that file extension as a .ovf extension if we want the go into that format. Doing this creates multiple files in several extensions rather than one file.
Appliance Settings page is that the next screen which will seem. Here we will review and edit the appliance configuration. It will be left default rather than ever-changing something. It works absolutely within the default settings.
Click the “Export” button. foremost the Virtualbox can convert our image to vmdk format (the default in VMWare) then packaging it in OVA format will occur. that's once the export is completed we are going to have 3 files: .vmdk, .mf, and .ovf. The .vmdk that are the computer file and therefore the .ovf is that the descriptor file for the virtual machine. Then later it'll be modified in .ova file.
Note: - The OVF commonplace is incredibly advanced, that makes its support in VirtualBox as associate degree in progress method. Honestly, there's no guarantee that the VirtualBox can support all appliances created by alternative virtualization code. There are few limitations that each user should undergo for higher understanding concerning the VirtualBox.