Convert OVA/OVF to Migrate from VMware to Hyper-V

Hyper-V is a mainstream virtualization solution for companies. It is an embedded feature in Windows operating system so users can easily enable Hyper-V on a Windows server. IT environment always needs the management of IT administrators to have good performance. When different virtualization platforms meet each other, what is the best way to manage heterogeneous virutal environment?

For example, if companies select both VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V to deploy virtual environment, IT administrator need to learn the knowledge of both virtualization solutions.

Hyper-V and VMware OVA

Hyper-V provides GUI tools for users to manage virtual environment so in the most of time, IT administrators don’t have to use commands for VM management.

One of the tools is Hyper-V Manager which is the simplest tool for Hyper-V management. It can be used to create, delete, export, import VM, etc. and the VM export can be used as VM backup.

Hyper-V Manager is easy to use. To export VM, users just need to select the VM in Hyper-V Manager and then select Export. A folder containing everything of the VM will be generated and saved to the pointed directory. If you open the folder, you can get the VHD/VHDX files, the virtual disks, of the VM.

VMware vSphere is another mainstream virtualization solution and also provides web consoles like vCenter, ESXi, etc., to let users manage virtual environment. When users export ESXi VM, the VM will often be saved as OVA or OVF template.

OVA/OVF template also contains all the information of the VM like the folder exported by Hyper-V Manager but can be recognized by more platforms. For example, OVA/OVF template can be directly used in XenCenter to import VMware VM to XenServer.

OVA/OVF template can’t be  directly used on Hyper-V but if you need the VMware VM data, you can extract the virtual disk, vmdk file, from OVA/OVF template can convert it to vhd virtual disk and then import it via Hyper-V Manager.

Although Hyper-V doesn’t make VM management as easy as VMware vSphere, you can get another solution for VM protection and management.

Convert VMware virtual disk in OVA/OVF template to vhd format for Hyper-V host

If you have got the OVA/OVF template from VMware and want to import data to Hyper-V, you don’t have to convert the whole template, but extract the vmdk file, convert it to vhd file, and then import it Hyper-V.

The tool you need is qemu-img. After you install the tool on local machine, you can convert the virtual disk with command.

qemu-img convert -p -f vmdk -O vpc my_centos7.vmdk my_centos7.vhd

-p: presenting the conversion progress

-f: format of the source image

-O: format of the target image

Then you can create a new VM with the virtual disk or attach the virtual disk to an existing VM.

Easily migrate VM from VMware to Hyper-V without converting OVA/OVF template

Using standard practices for virtual machine translation may result in complex compatibility issues. Considering tools specifically engineered for managing virtual landscapes could be an effective way of ensuring a smoother transition.

Vinchin Backup & Recovery is not only a backup solution for virtual machine, but also an advanced VM migration solution, supporting VMware vSphere, Hyper-V, Proxmox, XenServer, XCP-ng, oVirt, OLVM, RHV, OpenStack, etc. By adding both virtualized platforms into the backup system, you can perform easy agentless VM migration with a user-friendly web console.

There is the built-in conversion engine in the backup system, you just need to select the VM you need to move it to another virtualized platform.

For instance, if you would like to migrate VM from VMware to Hyper-V:

1. Just select the backup of the target VMware VM 

2. Select a Hyper-V host as target host 

3. Simply set up restore strategies or directly skip this step

4. Just submit the job and then the VMware VM will be quickly restored on the Hyper-V host

Vinchin Backup & Recovery has been selected by thousands of companies and you can also start a 60-day full-featured free trial here. Also, contact us, leave your requirements, and then you will receive your tailored solution. We have established partnerships with reputable companies all over the world so if you would like to do a local business, you can select a local partner here.

Sum Up

Virtualization technologies are popular now and IT administrators often need to learn the knowledge about different virtualization solutions.

Hyper-V and VMware are two of the mainstream virtualization solutions and they have different features. Hyper-V allows users to export VM to a folder but VMware VM export is OVF or OVA template so that OVA is not suitable for Hyper-V. If you would like to use the VMware VM on Hyper-V host, you should convert the virtual disk and then import it into Hyper-V host. 

Also, you can select a professional backup and disaster recovery solution to migrate VM via an easier way so don’t miss out on the free trial.