Moving a VM with USB Drive

[BJansky]

Howdy, I need to move several Virtual Machines in ESXi 4.1.0 from one office to another. Moving it online isn't an option so a USB 3.0 hard drive or thumb drive will be used. I understand how to browse the data store and download the files and folders to the hard drive and then upload them when I get there and then add to invitory but my question is, which files do I need? A typical directory for one of my machines has ABC.vmdk (50GB), ABD_1.vmdk (50GB), ABC-8bffbd14.vswp (4GB), 7 vmware.log files, ABC.nvram (8.4KB), ABC.vmx (3.4KB), ABC.vmxf (0.26KB), ABC.vmsd (0B), and ABC-8bffbd14.hlog (0B).

Which of those files should I send?

I know I need the .vmx and a .vmdk but do I need both .vmdk files?

Are the .vswp and .nvram files important?

Also, delete any snapshots before doing this, right?

Thanks,

Brian

[vmroyale]

It might be easier to just use the Export to OVF functionality in the vSphere Client. Select a powered off VM and then use the File menu to select Export -> Export OVF Template...

This will get you a complete VM that can later be imported on the host(s) at the other office.

[BJansky]

Okay, I just tried your method and it created a much smaller foot print than the other method. It created .mf, .ovf, and 2 .vmdk files. How would I upload this when I get there assuming they are running ESXi 4.1.0 there as well?

Thanks,
Brian

[vmroyale]

You would open the vSphere Client there and choose the File -> Deploy OVF Template... option. Then just walk through the wizard.

[BJansky]

Thanks! Did some experiementing by packing a system or two into ovf and sending it to another server and it works just like I want. Thank you so much!

Brian