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IT_User
Asked: 2016-04-19 07:53:06 +0800 CST

Export OVF fails with "File not found" error

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Good morning/afternoon/evening all:

I am having an issue with a single Virtual machine when it comes to exporting an OVA/OVF. I recieve a "File not found" error that appears to be pointing in the wrong directory...My process is

  • Clone Live virtual machine
  • Export OVA/OVF of the Cloned Machine

I have had no issue cloning 8 different Virtual Machines this way and exporting the data. I am only experiencing this issue with a single VM and I cannot figure out where the issue lies. Exact steps are below with work-arounds that I have tried.

Virtual machine name = RHEL_TEST_SERVER

Cloned VM Name = tmp_test_server

  • Clone virtual Machine
  • export OVF/OVA of the cloned VM

  • I receive an error immediately after I hit "OK" on the Export OVF Template screen. The error states:

    File ds:///vmfs/volumes/5876b9586-hf756475-c8193846734/RHEL_TEST_SERVER/[] was not found

It appears that when I Clone the OVA, it is setting ide1 (inside of tmp_test_server.vmx) to

ide1:0.fileName = ":///vmfs/volumes/5876b9586-hf756475-c8193846734/RHEL_TEST_SERVER/[]"

which I believe to be incorrect. It should be pointing to itself? I ssh into the ESXI/Linux server and navigate to that specific directory.

Even after I modify this file to point to itself, I still receive the same error of "File not found" (exact error as above). I cannot figure out why this is not working for this single Virtual Machine clone.

To answer the obvious question

  • yes I have deleted and re-cloned the virtual machine countless times (same error everytime)

Linux environment completely, and I have full access to see all files. If someone could please enlighten me on what the possible issue is and how I can fix it, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

virtualization virtual-machines clone vmware-esxi ovf

5 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    Please check there must be a ISO attached with the VM. Remove the ISO file and try exporting the OVF again.

    • 5

  2. to export into OVF file , firstly choose use physicaldrive's connection instead use iso image file, after you click on OK. enter image description here it works

    • 2

  3. On facing the same issue when converting a VM for VMWare to ovf format, i was able to resolve it. The host running the OVF Tool is MacBook Pro 15 with macOS Mojave.

    Below are the steps

    Open the .vmx file in a editor (e.g. Atom). Find the missing file from the error 

    sata0:1.fileName = [path of the missing file]

    In the same section locate

    sata0:1.present = "TRUE"

    change this to

    sata0:1.present = "FALSE"

    Now when the tool is run, it will not go looking for the iso image. This should enable the tool to run successfully.

    NOTE: for me, I have received the VM without the ISO image, another options that might just work if the ISO image is a must

    • Copying the ISO image along with VM
    • Try running the tool, but I doubt it will work, as the file might not be in the same location.
    • In that case, perform the above steps, and then mount the VM once the export is done
    • 1

  4. As a workaround,

    1. Logon with WinSCP
    2. Copy vmdk files under /vmfs/volumes/<ID>/.
    • 1

  5. In my Fedora 28, install "libnsl" for ovftool to work!!!

    It's Work!!! Solved

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