Migrate VirtualBox to VMware with 3 Proven Methods

VirtualBox vs VMware: Key Differences

Why migrate VirtualBox to VMware? See the following table you will get the answer.

So, migrate VirtualBox to VMware can enjoy more advanced enterprise and have better performance optimization.

Preparation for VirtualBox to VMware

Before starting the migration process, verify the following.

1. Backup the Original VM

Always create a full backup of the VirtualBox VM files before conversion.

Important VM files include: .vdi, .vmdk, .vbox, and snapshots

2. Remove Unnecessary Virtual Hardware

Inside VirtualBox:

• Remove unused USB controllers

• Remove unnecessary ISO mounts

• Disconnect unsupported devices

This can reduce hardware compatibility problems after migration.

3. Clean Up the Guest OS

Inside the guest operating system:

• Uninstall VirtualBox Guest Additions

• Run disk cleanup

• Remove temporary files

• Verify filesystem integrity

This helps prevent driver conflicts after moving to VMware.

Method 1. Export VirtualBox VM as OVA/OVF (Simplest)

Step 1. Export Appliance from VirtualBox

1. In Oracle VirtualBox, open VirtualBox and select the VM

2. Click File > Export Appliance

3. Choose the store location and OVA format, then click Next

4. Click Export to begin the process

Step 2. Import into VMware

For VMware Workstation:
1. Open VMware Workstation, click File > Open

2. Select the .ova file, and complete the popup windows

3. After finishing, click Import

For VMware ESXi/vSphere:

1. Open vSphere Client, select Deploy OVF Template

2. Upload the OVA file

3. Configure storage and networking

Method 2. Convert VirtualBox Disk to VMware VMDK (Great Flexibility)

Step 1. Locate the VirtualBox Disk

Common VirtualBox disk formats include: VDI, VMDK, and VHD

Step 2. Convert VDI to VMDK

Use the VirtualBox command:

VBoxManage clonemedium disk source.vdi target.vmdk --format VMDK

Older VirtualBox versions may use:

VBoxManage clonehd source.vdi target.vmdk --format VMDK

Step 3. Create a New VMware VM

1. In VMware, create a new VM

2. Select the Use an existing virtual disk

3. Attach the converted VMDK

4. Configure CPU, RAM, and network settings

Step 4. Install VMware Tools

1. After booting successfully, install VMware Tools

2. Reboot the guest OS

Method 3. Use VMware vCenter Converter to Convert VirtualBox to VMware

Although VMware Converter has had changing support availability over the years, many administrators still use compatible releases in lab or legacy migration environments.

Step 1. Prepare the VirtualBox VM

Before conversion, clean up the VM to avoid driver and boot issues.

1. Uninstall VirtualBox Guest Additions

For Windows:

Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall VirtualBox Guest Additions

For Linux:

sudo /opt/VBoxGuestAdditions*/uninstall.sh

2. Remove Unnecessary Snapshots

In VirtualBox, select the VM and delete unnecessary snapshots

3. Verify Disk Space

For Windows:

chkdsk /f

For Linux:

Fsck

Step 2. Launch VMware vCenter Converter

In VMware vCenter Converter, click Convert Machine

Step 3. Select the Source Machine

1. Select Power on as the source type, and you choose This local machine, Remote Windows machine, or Remote Linux machine

2. Provide the IP address or name, Username, and Password

Step 4. Select Destination Machine

1. Choose the destination type, VMware Infrastructure virtual machine or VMware Workstation or other VMware virtual machine

2. Provide the Server, User name, and Password

Step 5. Configure VM Options

Configure CPU & Memory, disk provisioning, and network configuration

Step 6. Start the Conversion

Click Finish to run the job

Further Action: Backup VMware VMs after Migration

After successfully migrating to VMware, implement a proper backup strategy immediately.

Enterprise VMware environments often require:

• Agentless backup

• Instant recovery

• Immutable storage

• Cross-platform protection

• Offsite disaster recovery

Vinchin Backup & Recovery not only can provide the above features, but also have more features in VMware environments.

Reduce Backup Storage Costs: VM backups consume huge amounts of storage, especially in large clusters. Vinchin can solve it by using deduplication, compression, and forever incremental backup.

Ransomware Protection: Ransomware attacks increasingly target backup repositories, without immutable or isolated backups, recovery may become impossible. With Vinchin, you can use immutable backup storage, backup encryption, malware scanning, and offsite backup copy to against ransomware.

Simple steps to protect VMware VMs:

Step 1. Under Backup > Virtualization, choose the VMware VM you want to backup

Step 2. In Backup Destination tab, choose Target Storage and Target Node

Step 3. In Backup Strategies tab, choose Time Windows and Mode

Step 4. Confirm all your backup settings, then click Submit to start the backup

Download Vinchin Backup & Recovery now to get the full featured 60-day free trial!

FAQs about Converting VirtualBox to VMware

Q1: Why does my VMware VM show "Operating System Not Found" after migration?

This usually happens because:

• The boot order is incorrect

• The bootloader is missing

• The disk controller changed during migration

• EFI/BIOS settings do not match the original VM

Try:

• Switching SATA/SCSI controller types

• Rebuilding the bootloader

• Verifying the active boot partition

Q2: Does VMware automatically optimize hardware settings after migration?

Not completely. After migration, administrators should still manually review: vCPU allocation, RAM sizing, network adapter type, storage controller type, and thin/thick provisioning.

Conclusion

Migrating VirtualBox to VMware is a common modernization step for organizations seeking better scalability, enterprise management, and production-grade virtualization capabilities.

For smaller workloads, OVA export is often sufficient. For complex enterprise workloads, VMDK conversion or advanced migration utilities provide greater control and flexibility. What's more, for VMware environments security, try Vinchin Backup & Recovery to backup VMware VMs!