Import a Virtual Machine from vCenter

A system administrator can import virtual machines from the inventory of any vCenter server registered to VMware Cloud Director. You can import the virtual machines to any VDC in a cloud, and you can import them in vApp or vApp template form.

When you import a virtual machine from vCenter, you must specify the following items:

• A target VDC to receive the import.
• A form for the imported virtual machine to take. Choose vApp or vApp template.
• Whether to remove the source virtual machine from vCenter inventory after the import is complete.

Prerequisites

• This operation is restricted to system administrators.

• Identify the virtual machine to import. See Retrieve a List of Virtual Machines from a vCenter Server.

Procedure

1. Choose whether to import the virtual machine as a vApp or vApp template.
   The VimServer element that represents the vCenter server from which you import the virtual machine contains two links that import virtual machines. One has the following form, and imports the virtual machine as a vApp.

   <vcloud:Link
         rel="add"
         type="application/vnd.vmware.admin.importVmAsVAppParams+xml"
         href="https://vcloud.example.com/api/admin/extension/vimServer/9/importVmAsVApp" />

   The other has the following form, and imports the virtual machine as a vApp template.

   <vcloud:Link
         rel="add"
         type="application/vnd.vmware.admin.importVmAsVAppTemplateParams+xml"
         href="https://vcloud.example.com/api/admin/extension/vimServer/9/importVmAsVAppTemplate" />

2. (Optional) If you plan to import the virtual machine as a vApp template, identify a catalog where you want to place a reference to the template.