Import an OVA to AWS

Import the OVA using previously created roles.

Console
Command Line

AWS requires the vmimport identity to import a virtual machine (VM).

There's no AWS Console equivalent to the command-line import-image command.

Use the vmimport identity to convert the OVA image to an AMI image:

Create a json file that represents the locations for the containers used during the import. When you create your file using the following example, replace:
- BUCKET_NAME with the name of the bucket (for example, access-gateway-bucket).
- DESCRIPTION with a description for the import (for example, Okta Access Gateway).
- FILE_NAME with the name of the OVA file (for example, Okta-AccessGateway.ova).
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containers.json
```
[
    {
        "Description": "DESCRIPTION",
        "Format": "ova",
        "UserBucket": {
            "S3Bucket": "BUCKET_NAME",
            "S3Key": "FILE_NAME"
        }
    }
]
```

Begin the import process:

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aws ec2 import-image --description "Okta Access Gateway" --license-type "BYOL" --disk-containers "file://~/Downloads/containers.json"

Examine the output of the import command and note the task id that's associated with the import process:

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{
    "Status": "active", 
    "LicenseType": "BYOL", 
    "Description": "AG2019.ova.", 
    "SnapshotDetails": [...], 
    "Progress": "2", 
    "StatusMessage": "pending", 
        "ImportTaskId": "import-ami-08800a79da64acae7"
}

Check the progress of the import using the task id. The Progress json element reports the progress as a percentage from 0 to 100. In the following command, replace TASK_ID with the task id output by the preceding import command:

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aws ec2 describe-import-image-tasks --import-task-ids TASK_ID

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Monitor the import until its Status changes to completed. Note the value of ImageId in your output, which should be similar to the following example:

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{
    "ImportImageTasks": [
    {
        "Status": "completed", 
        "LicenseType": "BYOL", 
        "Description": "AG2019.ova.",
        ImageId": "ami-0c20c537e7f8dd6a5"
}

Confirm that the import is complete:
1. Return to the AWS console.
2. Go to ServicesEC2.
3. Select ImagesAMIs.
4. Search for the image whose AMI ID matches the ImageId from the import operation.