====== Export an EC2 instance as ova/vmdk ======

==== Export ====

You need AWS CLI in order to export an instance, check here how to install it [[https://lunetikk.de/doku.php?id=cloud:aws:awsclim|Lunetikk.de - AWS CLI]]

Create a json file with the following content (replace <YOUR BUCKET> with one of your buckets):
<code>
{
    "ContainerFormat": "ova",
    "DiskImageFormat": "VMDK",
    "S3Bucket": "<YOUR BUCKET>",
    "S3Prefix": "vms/"
}
</code>

Then export via AWS CLI

<code>
aws ec2 create-instance-export-task --instance-id <INSTANCE-ID> --target-environment vmware --export-to-s3-task file://C:\<PATH TO YOUR JSON>

Example:
aws ec2 create-instance-export-task --instance-id i-0c3786ac638b6bc7c --target-environment vmware --export-to-s3-task file://C:\Users\Lunetikk\Desktop\aws\aws.json
</code>

You can check if the task is still running via
<code>
aws ec2 describe-export-tasks --export-task-ids <EXPORT-TASK-ID>
</code>

Or cancel it
<code>
aws ec2 cancel-export-task --export-task-id <EXPORT-TASK-ID>
</code>

The .ova will then be in your bucket under /vms

Source: [[https://docs.aws.amazon.com/vm-import/latest/userguide/vmexport.html|docs.aws.amazon.com - vmexport]]

==== Troubleshooting ====

Export failed with "invalid parameter", check here: [[https://lunetikk.de/doku.php?id=cloud:aws:troubleshooting|Lunetikk.de - AWS Troubleshooting]]

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