To import a virtual machine as a vApp, a system administrator can make a request to the importVmAsVApp link of the VimServer that manages the virtual machine.

Prerequisites

Procedure

  1. Create an ImportVmAsVAppParams element that specifies the VmMoRef of the source virtual machine and a target VDC to hold the imported vApp.
  2. POST the ImportVmAsVAppParams element to the importVmAsVApp link of the source vCenter server.

Example: Import a Virtual Machine as a vApp

This example imports one of the virtual machines shown in the response portion of Retrieve a List of Virtual Machines from a vCenter Server. The request body is an ImportVmAsVAppParams element whose sourceMove attribute specifies that the source virtual machine should remain in vCenter inventory after the import is complete. The request body includes the href of the VDC that receives the import and a VmMoRef element that contains the managed object reference of the virtual machine to import. The response is an unresolved vApp body that contains a Task that tracks the import.

Request: 
POST https://vcloud.example.com/api/admin/extension/vimServer/9/importVmAsVapp
Content-type: application/vnd.vmware.admin.importVmAsVAppParams+xml
...
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<ImportVmAsVAppParams
   xmlns="http://www.vmware.com/vcloud/extension/v1.5"
   name="ImportedWin2K8"
   sourceMove="false">
   <VmMoRef>vm-43</VmMoRef>
   <Vdc
      href="http://vcloud.example.com/api/vdc/2" />
</ImportVmAsVAppParams>
Response: 
201 Created
Content-Type: application/vnd.vmware.vcloud.vApp+xml
...
<VApp ...
   status="0"
   name="ImportedWin2K8"
   type="application/vnd.vmware.vcloud.vApp+xml"
   href="https://vcloud.example.com/api/vApp/vapp-102" ... >
   ...
   <Description />
   <Tasks>
      <Task
         operation=”Busy Virtual Application Win2K8 ”>
         ... 
      </Task>
   </Tasks>
</VApp>