The ovf and ova are open virtual machine formats, these formats are defined to enable easy transfer of virtual machine image across various vendors. Based on my experience its really a cumbersome job to import an Virtual machine image even while using this open formats when we switch from vendors.
Command to convert ovf to ova and vice-versa
On Windows:
1) Download and Install VMware player or download the ovftool from VM ware.
2) Navigate to the directory where the VMware player was installed, ideally it should be:
C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Player\OVFTool\
3) Open the windows run window (hold windows Key + R on your keyboard :) )
4) Type cmd and press enter
5) On the command prompt
cd C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Player\OVFTool\
6) ovftool.exe path_to_your_OVA_file.ova Path_to_your_OVF_file.ovf
or
ovftool.exe path_to_your_OVF_file.ovf Path_to_your_OVA_file.ova
Command to convert ovf to ova and vice-versa
On Windows:
1) Download and Install VMware player or download the ovftool from VM ware.
2) Navigate to the directory where the VMware player was installed, ideally it should be:
C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Player\OVFTool\
3) Open the windows run window (hold windows Key + R on your keyboard :) )
4) Type cmd and press enter
5) On the command prompt
cd C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Player\OVFTool\
6) ovftool.exe path_to_your_OVA_file.ova Path_to_your_OVF_file.ovf
or
ovftool.exe path_to_your_OVF_file.ovf Path_to_your_OVA_file.ova
