Importing OVF or OVA packages
The Open Virtualization Format (OVF) is an open standard for packaging and distributing virtual appliances (vApps). An Open Virtual Appliance (OVA) is an OVF package stored in a single file in the TAR format. VMware and other vendors distribute software in the OVA or OVF format. You can create OVF or OVA packages from vApps and virtual machines using the Export-VApp cmdlet.
An application packaged as an OVF or OVA can be imported to your vSphere inventory using PowerCLI. Before you can import an OVF or OVA package, you will have to configure the properties required by the package, such as the following:
Name
Port group
IP address
Retrieving the required properties
Because the required properties are different for each package, you will have to retrieve them first. The Get-OvfConfiguration cmdlet will retrieve required properties from the OVF or OVA package for you.
The syntax of the Get-OvfConfiguration cmdlet is as follows:
Get-OvfConfiguration [-Ovf] <String>...
