Deploying an OVF/OVA file - esxi

Question

Deploying an OVF/OVA file to a remote ESXi server
I am trying to deploy an OVF/OVA file to a remote ESXi server.
I want to do this from the command line.
I have written a simple batch file which deploys the ovf using
ovftool.exe.
Here is my batch file:
#echo off
CLS
set OVF_COMMAND="C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMwareWorkstation\OVFTool\ovftool.exe"
set OVF_DEPLOY_OFF=ovftool
IF NOT EXIST %OVF_COMMAND% (
#echo powershell does not exists at:
#echo %OVF_COMMAND%
pause
)
#echo START OF THE BATCH SCRIPT
#echo ###############**strong text**########################################################
%OVF_DEPLOY_OFF% --noSSLVerify --disableVerification --skipManifestGeneration C:\Newfolder\vAppTS2\vAppTS2.ovf vi://administrator:jim#141.192.91.124/nrtms-training/host/141.192.91.9/
#echo #######################################################################
This works fine, but it is too slow. The OVF file comprises of one vApp with one VM. When all will be done the vApp will contain about 9 VMs.
It takes about 20 minutes to deploy the the current vApp which contains only one VM. I cannot imagine how long it will take to deploy a vApp with 9 VMs.
Is it a way to make it faster?
Cheers.

Answer 1

I have managed to find work-around.
Instead of importing a ovf file from some remote location I have chosen to clone that vApp from a predefined resource pool.
So at the beginning I have created a resource pool on which I have uploaded a vApp.
//connect to server
Connect-VIServer -Server $args[2].ToString() -Username $args[3] -Password $args[4]
// search which vApp to move into the new source pool
// The name of the vApp is given as an argument to the powerCLI script
// It must be one of the existing vApps
foreach ($vApps in (Get-vApp ) )
{
if ($vApps.name -eq $args[0])
{
# defined source and destination hosts
$vmHost_dest = Get-VMHost -Name "100.106.37.10"
$vmHost_source = Get-VMHost -Name "100.106.37.9"
# create a resource pool on destination host
$myDestinationRP = New-ResourcePool -Name "datastore-13" -Location $vmHost_dest
New-VApp -Name MyVApp2 -VApp $vApps -Location $myDestinationRP
}
}
So I can build a custom vApp and store it to a specific source pool from where I can clone it later on as I please.
If I want to remove the newly cloned vApp I can do as followS:
Get-VApp $vApps | Remove-VApp -Confirm:$false
Hope this helps