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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →You can move a VMware Workstation virtual machine to ESXi either by deploying it directly from Workstation or by packaging it as OVF/OVA and deploying that package. The direct Workstation wizard is documented for older releases, so its menus may not exist in current Workstation Pro versions. For a portable OVA, use Broadcom’s OVF Tool.
Choose a migration route
| Route | Best when | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Workstation deployment | You want to send a clone straight to an ESXi host or vCenter. | Broadcom’s procedure covers Workstation through Pro 15.x and ESXi 6.5/6.7; it does not verify the same menus in current releases. Broadcom KB 302650 |
| OVF/OVA package with OVF Tool | You need a portable package or the Workstation wizard is unavailable. | OVF Tool supports exporting from ESXi/vCenter to OVA and deploying an OVF/OVA package to ESXi/vCenter. Broadcom KB 340425 |
Deploy directly from Workstation
Broadcom’s documented legacy workflow exports a clone to the destination; it does not move or remove the original Workstation VM. Use it only if your Workstation release actually offers these commands.
- Power off the VM and close its tab.
- In Workstation, select File > Import or Export.
- Choose Other as the source and browse to the VM’s
.vmxfile. - Choose VMware Infrastructure Virtual Machine as the destination.
- Enter the ESXi host or vCenter credentials, then select the destination datastore, network, VM name, and other requested settings.
- Review the selections and finish the wizard. The resulting VM is a clone on the destination.
The same legacy Broadcom article says Workstation 8.x and later could use File > Connect to Server. Its listed environments stop at Workstation Pro 15.x, so neither that path nor the export wizard should be assumed to exist in a current release. See Broadcom KB 302650.
Export or deploy with OVF Tool
OVF Tool is Broadcom’s documented route for creating an OVA from an ESXi VM or deploying an OVF/OVA package to ESXi or vCenter. For example, an export from an ESXi host follows this pattern:
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ovftool vi://<ESXi-host>/<VM-name> <destination-file>.ovaFor a vCenter source, the locator must identify the vCenter inventory path, including the datacenter, VM folder, and VM name. When deploying a package, specify the target inventory location and settings such as VM name, datastore, disk mode, network or port group, and host. Use the exact inventory paths and options required by your environment; consult the installed OVF Tool documentation and Broadcom’s command examples. Broadcom KB 340425.
Do not look for a single-file OVA export command in vSphere Client: Broadcom states that vSphere Client 6.5 and later does not provide direct OVA export. Use OVF Tool when you need an OVA. Broadcom KB 434889.
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Prepare the VM and destination
- Power off the source VM. The documented Workstation export procedure requires shutdown; OVF/OVA export is also intended for powered-off VMs.
- Check access and connectivity. For the legacy direct workflow, the Workstation host must reach the ESXi host or vCenter, use valid credentials, and connect over management-console port 902 and HTTPS port 443. If host-name resolution is the problem, the Broadcom article suggests trying the IP address. Broadcom KB 302650
- Allow for snapshot chains. Large or old snapshots can substantially increase conversion time. Broadcom KB 302650
- Verify virtual hardware compatibility. Check the VM’s virtual hardware version against the compatibility information for the target ESXi release. A VM opening in Workstation does not establish that the destination supports its hardware version. Broadcom KB 312100
- Confirm target resources. Select a datastore and network or port group that exist at the destination; these are explicit deployment settings in OVF Tool’s examples. Broadcom KB 340425
- Decide whether both copies will run. If the Workstation original and ESXi clone operate at the same time, customize the destination so it has distinct MAC addresses and SIDs. Broadcom KB 302650
Check disk provisioning and package size
Thin versus thick disks
OVF export uses a specialized sparse disk format, and re-imported disks will usually be thin. If the destination datastore or workload requires thick provisioning—especially eager-zeroed thick—plan to inflate the disks after import rather than assuming the original allocation is preserved. Broadcom KB 312200
Large disks and split packages
For packages that need VMDK files split into chunks, OVF Tool provides the --chunkSize option. The vSphere Client and Host Client do not implement split export/import in the cited vSphere 8.0/9.0 documentation; split-package imports require OVF Tool. Broadcom KB 452206
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VMs with a virtual TPM
A VM with a vTPM is an exception to ordinary vSphere Client OVF/OVA export. Broadcom’s guidance for vCenter 7.x and 8.x says the device must be removed before export through vSphere Client and points to an OVF Tool placeholder-attribute approach. Treat changing a vTPM as a sensitive configuration change: verify the applicable product instructions and security requirements before proceeding. Broadcom KB 403026
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do not use export as a backup plan
OVF/OVA export is intended for migration or deployment, not scheduled backups. Broadcom states: “This functionality is not designed or intended to be used as a regular backup solution.” Use a backup method designed for recovery instead. Broadcom KB 417453
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