Problem
Unable to export OVF template
Attempting to export an OVF template from ESXi 6.5 to host client, fails with the following message:
From google chrome: Failed - Network error
From IE: The disk-1.vmdk download was interrupted
Before this error, I tried to export the VM from vCenter, and it was even worse, it was stuck. And after a long period, it shows another error message.
Solution
Updated: Check the last section for a workaround.
The solution is quite simple, Use Firefox!
I was insisting over and over again with Google Chrome and IE, and it seems that these two web browsers have problems when downloading large files.
At the moment of writing this, I used Firefox version 58.0.1 (64-bit) and worked like a charm.
[EDIT: 26/04/2019]:
Google Chrome seems to work well now with large files from a while on. Recently I tested under Google Chrome Version 73.0.3683.103 (Official Build) (64-bit) and vSphere 6.7 U2 to download an OVF file over 10GB, and it went well. If you still have some issues, check the options below or the last section for a workaround.
Additional
Follow these basic best practices when exporting a VM (OVF format):
- Remove snapshots from the VM
- Unplug ISO files attached to the VM
- Use a direct connection to the ESXi host, vCenter has always been kind of buggy with this.
Similar issue: https://communities.vmware.com/thread/587924
Still having issues?
Use the VMware OVF tool! If you are still having issues with exporting an OVF template from an ESXi host to your local machine (PC), go to the following blog post for a workaround using the VMware OFV tool. It is easy!