Import Items to a Content Library

You can add items to a local content library by importing files from your local machine or from a Web server. You can import OVF and OVA templates and other types of files, such as ISO images, certificates, and so on. You can keep the items in the library and share them with other users across multiple vCenter Server instances. You can also use the templates in the content library to deploy new virtual machines and vApps.

Prerequisites

Required privilege: Content library.Add library item and Content library.Update files on the library.

Procedure

Navigate to the Content Libraries list.
Right-click a local content library and select Import Item.
The Import Library Item dialog box opens.

In the Source section, choose the source of the item.

Option	Description
Import from a URL	Enter the path to the Web server where the item is. Note: You can import either an .ovf or .ova file. The resulting content library item is of the OVF Template type.
Import from a Local File	Click Browse to navigate to the file that you want to import from your local system. You can use the drop-down menu to filter files in your local system. Note: You can import either an .ovf or .ova file. When you import an OVF template, first select the OVF descriptor file ( .ovf). Next, you are prompted to select the other files in the OVF template, for example the .vmdk file. The resulting content library item is of the OVF Template type.

Option

Description

Import from a URL

Enter the path to the Web server where the item is.

Note: You can import either an .ovf or .ova file. The resulting content library item is of the OVF Template type.

Import from a Local File

Click Browse to navigate to the file that you want to import from your local system. You can use the drop-down menu to filter files in your local system.

Note: You can import either an .ovf or .ova file. When you import an OVF template, first select the OVF descriptor file ( .ovf). Next, you are prompted to select the other files in the OVF template, for example the .vmdk file. The resulting content library item is of the OVF Template type.

vCenter Server reads and validates the manifest and certificate files in the OVF package during importing. A warning is displayed in the Import Library Item wizard, if certificate issues exist, for example if vCenter Server detects an expired certificate.

Note: vCenter Server does not read signed content, if the OVF package is imported from an .ovf file from your local machine.

In the Destination section, enter a name and a description for the item.
Click Import.

Results

In the Recent Tasks pane you see two tasks, one about creating a new item in the library, and the second about uploading the contents of the item to the library. After the task is complete, the item appears on the Templates tab or on the Other Types tab.