Exporting a VM in Open Virtualization Format

[nachtkraebble]

Hi folks, 

earlier, I had posted this as a question, but I couldn't use the answer. I don't have that insider knowledge. This is why I try again, now as a discussion where I could ask back without my follow-up question being interpreted as a 2nd answer. 

I use VMWare Fusion 13.5.2 on a MacBook Pro with Intel processor. I would like to export my virtual machine in something of the Open Virtualization Format, i.e. *.ova or *.ovf. 

I have tried to read the help contexts and understood: There is an option to export the virtual machine with a vTPM. 
I have no idea what a vTPM might be & I do not understand the texts on the VMWare internet site. It seems to be some special software. Besides, whenever I start VMWare Fusion (since spring) my MacBook starts to overheat so I have to minimize actions.

On the other hand, I am planning now to either re-install Fusion 13.5.2 from scratch or probably to switch to Fusion Pro 13.5.2. With Pro, there should be another way to extract an ova-version -- but I didn't understand those procedures either. 

Could somebody please tell me what to do in plain text for the non-initiated? Or do you know where to find such a description? 

For example, Mr Roy described how to switch to Fusion pro on Switching from Fusion and Workstation Player to Pro for Personal Use in an easy to understand way, step by step. Unfortunately, I couldn't find such a description for that export. 

Every help is appreciated. 

Thank you very much, 

Nachtkraebble

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Nachtkrabb
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[Technogeezer]

Have you checked out the Fusion documentation (which is available online or within the Fusion product through the Help > VMware Fusion Help menu)?

The help topic "Export a Virtual Machine to OVF Format on Intel-based Mac" describes how to export an unencrypted VM with no TPM device to .ova or .ovf format. 

If you have an encrypted VM with a TPM device (Trusted Platform Module) device such as a Windows 11 virtual machine,  the GUI instructions to export a VM in ova/ovf format won't work. You will need to follow the procedure in the help topic Export a Virtual Machine with vTPM to OVF Format on Intel-based Mac. This procedure uses the command line ovftool utility provided by VMware as part of Fusion.

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- Paul (technogeezer)
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