You can upload an OVF package to create a vApp template in a catalog.

VMware Cloud Director supports the Open Virtualization Format (OVF) and Open Virtualization Appliance (OVA) specifications. If you upload an OVF file that includes OVF properties for customizing its virtual machines, those properties are preserved in the vApp template. For information about creating OVF packages, see the OVF Tool User Guide and VMware vCenter Converter User's Guide.

Uploading an OVF with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) RASD section creates a vApp template. When you instantiate from the vApp template a VM with a defined TPM, VMware Cloud Director creates a new TPM device.

Prerequisites

  • Verify that you are logged in as a Catalog Author or a role with equivalent set of rights.

  • If you want work with VMs with TPM devices, verify that the following criteria are met.
    • A VDC that supports TPM backs the VM.
    • For operations across vCenter instances, verify that the key provider used to encrypt each VM is registered on the target vCenter instance under the same name.
    • For operations across vCenter instances, verify that the VM and the target vCenter instance are on the same shared storage or that fast cross vCenter vApp instantiation is enabled.

Procedure

  1. From the primary left navigation panel, select Content Hub, from the secondary left panel, select Content, and select the vApp Templates tab.
    The list of templates appears in a grid view.
  2. Click New.
  3. Enter a URL address of the OVF file, or click the Upload icon to browse to a location accessible from your computer and select the OVF/OVA template file.
    The location might be your local hard drive, a network share, or a CD/DVD drive. The supported file extensions include .ova, .ovf, .vmdk, .mf, .cert, and .strings. If you select to upload an OVF file, which references more files than you are trying to upload, for example, a VMDK file, you must browse and select all files.
  4. Verify the details of the OVF/OVA template you are about to deploy and click Next.
  5. Enter a name and, optionally, a description for the vApp template, and click Next.
  6. From the Catalog drop-down menu, select the catalog, to which you want to add the template.
  7. Review the vApp template settings, and click Finish.

Results

The new vApp template appears in the templates grid view.