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Chapter 11. Importing and Exporting VMs
XenServer allows you to import VMs from and export them to a number of different formats. Using the XenCenter
Import wizard, you can import VMs from disk images (VHD and VMDK), Open Virtualization Format (OVF and OVA)
and XenServer XVA format. You can even import VMs that have been created on other virtualization platforms,
such as those offered by VMware and Microsoft.
Note:
When importing VMs that have been created using other virtualization platforms, it is
necessary to configure or "fix up" the guest operating system to ensure that it boots on
XenServer. The Operating System Fixup feature in XenCenter aims to provide this basic level
of interoperability. For more information, see Section 11.2, “Operating System Fixup”.
Using the XenCenter Export wizard, you can export VMs to Open Virtualization Format (OVF and OVA) and
XenServer XVA format.
When importing and exporting VMs, a temporary VM — the Transfer VM — is used to perform the import/export
of OVF/OVA packages and disk images. You need to configure networking settings for the Transfer VM in the
XenCenter Import and Export wizards. For more information, see Section 11.3, “The Transfer VM”.
You can also use the xe CLI to import VMs from and export them to XenServer XVA format.
11.1. Supported Formats
Format Description
Open Virtualization Format (OVF and OVA) OVF is an open standard for packaging and
distributing a virtual appliance consisting of one or
more VM(s).
Disk image formats (VHD and VMDK) Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) and Virtual Machine Disk
(VMDK) format disk image files can be imported
using the Import wizard. Importing a disk image may
be appropriate when there is a virtual disk image
available, with no OVF metadata associated.
XenServer XVA format XVA is a format specific to Xen-based hypervisors
for packaging an individual VM as a single file
archive, including a descriptor and disk images. Its file
extension is .xva.
XenServer XVA Version 1 format XVA Version 1 is the original format specific to Xen-
based hypervisors for packaging an individual VM as
a single file archive, including a descriptor and disk
images. Its file extension is ova.xml.
Which Format to Use?
Consider using OVF/OVA format to:
• Share XenServer vApps and VMs with other virtualization platforms that support OVF
• Save more than one VM
• Secure a vApp or VM from corruption and tampering
• Include a license agreement
• Simplify vApp distribution by storing an OVF package in an OVA file
