Is it possible to import VirtualBox 4.2.12 exported OVA file into VMWare ESX 4?

virtualbox vmware-esx vmware-workstation export import

5,899

There is an article on VMware knowledge base trying to explain a similar issue but on ESXi 5.x.

Try to modify the XML manifest of your OVA/OVF appliance:

Open the OVA/OVF file in some editor
Search for the XML Tag <VirtualSystemType>virtualbox2.2</VirtualSystemType>
As you want to import it to ESX 4, replace the string virtualbox2.2 with vmx-06
Try import again

5,899

pimgeek

PIM (Personal Information Management) Geek

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

pimgeek over 1 year
I have created an OVA file from VirtualBox 4.2.12, and someone tried to import this ova file into VMWare ESX 4. When he was doing so, VMWare ESX 4 promopted:
```
Line 25: Unsupported hardware family 'virtualbox-2.2'.
```
I assumed that the OVA file can be universally imported into VirtualBox, VMWare Workstation and VMWare ESX, but now it turned out not the case.

Now, step back a little, I want to know: Is it possible to create from VirtualBox VM, an OVA or OVF file that can be imported into all of the following product without error?
1. VMware Workstation 6 or above?
2. VMware ESX 4 or above?
3. VirtualBox 4.2.12 or above?
- Chopper3 over 10 years
  
  why are you using such old versions? they're bound to impact on portability options.
- pimgeek over 10 years
  
  I have checked the closed question serverfault.com/questions/448056/… , and not sure if there are better answers, so I started another question.
- pimgeek over 10 years
  
  @Chopper3, which version of VirtualBox do you suggest I use?
- user9517 over 10 years
  
  Something Like isn't really good enough; messages are there for a reason. I think Chopper3 is referring to the old version of ESX not VB.
- pimgeek over 10 years
  
  I will verify that information, thanks for your help!
- pimgeek over 10 years
  
  and here is the ticket found on VirtualBox official site, I didn't find a solution there: virtualbox.org/ticket/7982
- Chopper3 over 10 years
  
  @PIMGeek - as suggested I did indeed mean the 3+ year old versions of ESXi (5.5 is the latest) and Workstation (9 is the latest) - both significantly improve on importing options.
- pimgeek over 9 years
  
  @Chopper3 Thanks very much for being helpful. :) We were trying to satisfy some clients who insist on using old version... We ourselves usually use the latest stable versions. (And sorry for having asked amateur-style question here.)
lapo over 8 years

I used vmx-08 for ESXi 5.5. (as it is not retro-compatible with vmx-06, strangely enough)