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Import VMs From OVF/OVA

August 12, 2025
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You can import virtual machines (VMs) that have been saved as OVF/OVA files using the Import wizard. The wizard takes you through many of the usual steps needed to create a VM in XenCenter: configuring storage and networking for the new VMs, plus some additional steps required as part of the OVF import process, including:

  • Reviewing/accepting any EULAs.
  • Specifying security settings if the OVF package includes a certificate or a manifest.
  • Specifying Operating system fixup settings if importing Linux VMs that were built on a hypervisor other than a XenServer host.

For detailed information about each of these steps, see Creating a New VM.

Imported OVF packages appear as vApps when imported using XenCenter. When the import is complete, the new VMs appear in the XenCenter Resources pane and the new vApp appears in the Managing vApps dialog box.

Note:

It might not always be possible to run an imported VM that was exported from another server with a different CPU type. For example, a Windows VM created on a server with an Intel VT CPU, then exported, might not run when imported to a server with an AMD-V CPU.

Prerequisites

  • To be able to import VMs from an OVF/OVA package, you require certain permissions. The Import wizard performs checks to ensure that you have a required role in the destination pool before allowing you to continue. For more information about the RBAC roles that are required, see Definitions of RBAC roles and permissions.

Import an OVF package

  1. In the Resources pane, select the host or pool to import the package into.
  2. On the File menu, select Import. The Import wizard opens.

  3. On the first page of the wizard, locate the OVA/OVF file you want to import, then click Next to continue.

    • If you select a compressed OVA file ( *.ova.gz ), on clicking Next, the file is decompressed to an OVA file and the old *.ova.gz file is deleted.
    • If you enter a URL location (HTTP, HTTPS, file, FTP) in the Filename box, on clicking Next, a Download Package dialog opens. In this dialog, specify a folder on your XenCenter host where the OVA/OVF is to be copied.

  4. (Optional) Review and accept the EULA. If the OVF/OVA includes a EULA, the EULA page displays the EULA text. If you want to accept the EULA, choose Accept and continue.

  5. Specify a template. In the Template page, choose the template to use for the VM or VMs that you are importing from the OVA/OVF file. Only the default templates provided with XenServer are supported. Do not use a custom template.

    On this panel, you can also choose whether to use Windows Update to update the I/O drivers.

    Click Next to continue.

  6. Optional: Install the XenServer VM Tools (Windows VMs only) If the Conversion Manager virtual appliance version 8.5.0 or later is running in your pool, you can choose to install XenServer VM Tools for Windows as part of the import. This tools installation process happens after the imported VMs first start. For this option to be available, the VM disks must be on shared storage or on the same host as the Conversion Manager.

    1. Select Install the XenServer VM Tools.

    2. Choose which version of the tools to install. One or more of the following options are available:

      • The version of the tools uploaded into the Conversion Manager
      • The latest version downloaded from the internet
      • A tools installation file located on your XenCenter system
    3. Click Next to continue.

  7. Optional: Specify the VM location. On the Location page, choose a server if you want to place the VMs you are importing on the server’s local storage.

    Click Next to continue.

  8. Configure storage for the new VMs.

    On the Storage page, select a storage repository (SR) where the imported virtual disk is placed. If you have selected to install the XenServer VM Tools as part of the import, ensure that VM disks are on shared storage or on the same host as the Conversion Manager.

    Click Next to continue.

  9. Configure networking for the new VMs.

    On the Networking page, select a target network in the destination pool/standalone server for the new VMs’ virtual network interface.

    Click Next to continue.

  10. (Optional)Specify security settings. If the selected OVF/OVA package is configured with security features such as certificates or a manifest, specify the necessary information on the Security page. Select Next to continue. Different options appear on this page depending on which security features have been configured on the OVF package:

    • If the package is signed, a Verify digital signature check box appears here; select this check box if you want to verify the signature. Click View Certificate to display the certificate used to sign the package. If the certificate appears as untrusted, it is likely that either the Root Certificate or the Issuing Certificate Authority is not trusted on the local computer.

    • If the package includes a manifest, a Verify manifest content check box appears here. Select this check box to have the wizard verify the list of files in the package.

    When the package is digitally signed, the associated manifest is verified automatically and so the Verify manifest content check box does not appear on the Security page.

    Click Next to continue.

  11. Optional: Enable Operating System Fixup. (Linux VMs only) If all your VMs are Windows VMs, this panel is not shown.

    If the Linux VMs that you are importing are built on a hypervisor other than XenServer, select Use Operating System Fixup. Choose an ISO SR where the Fixup ISO can be copied so that XenServer can use it. For more information, see About VM Import and Export.

    Click Next to continue.

  12. On the Finish page, review all the import settings. Click Finish to begin the import process and close the wizard.

When the import is finished, the newly imported VMs appear in the Resources pane and the new vApp appears in the Managing vApps dialog.

Note:

If Conversion Manager virtual appliance version 8.5.0 or later is running in your pool, it automatically removes the VMware tools, if they are present, after the imported Windows VMs first start.

Errors when trying to start an imported VM

If you cannot boot the VMs imported from an OVF package, try importing the package again without using the Operating System Fixup feature: in the OS Fixup Settings page of the Import wizard, clear the Use Operating System Fixup checkbox. For more information, see About VM Import and Export.

XenServer 8.4

Import VMs From OVF/OVA
August 12, 2025
Contributed by: 
X

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