Import VM (freebsd) to AWS

Question

Hi all,

Can you tell me please how can I import vm (freebsd) to aws? tried both .ova and .vmdk and raw format, same error

Thanks in advance.

aws ec2 describe-import-image-tasks --import-task-ids import-ami-087857a5fdc4173a7
     {
    "ImportImageTasks": [
        {
            "Description": "import image vm",
            "ImportTaskId": "import-ami-087857a5fdc4173a7",
            "SnapshotDetails": [
                {
                    "Description": "My Server OVA",
                    "DeviceName": "/dev/sde",
                    "DiskImageSize": 8589934592.0,
                    "Format": "RAW",
                    "Status": "completed",
                    "UserBucket": {
                        "S3Bucket": "disk-image-filebucket",
                        "S3Key": "freebsd_p1.img"
                    }
                }
            ],
            "Status": "deleted",
            "StatusMessage": "ClientError: No valid partitions. Not a valid volume.",
            "Tags": []
        }
    ]
     }

Answer

FreeBSD is not [a supported OS](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/vm-import/latest/userguide/prerequisites.html) by VM Import.

Instead, you can do a [snapshot import](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/vm-import/latest/userguide/vmimport-import-snapshot.html). Command is something like
```
aws ec2 import-snapshot --description "FreeBSD" --disk-container "file://file.json"
```

Do ensure that your FreeBSD image has necessary drivers to run on AWS hypervisor. This can be nvme driver, [ENA](https://github.com/amzn/amzn-drivers/tree/master/kernel/fbsd/ena) driver and Xen PV drivers. After import is done, go to EC2 console, snapshots to create AMI image and launch it.

Alternatively, you can launch a FreeBSD instance from [AWS Marketplace](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/seller-profile?id=92bb514d-02bc-49fd-9727-c474863f63da)

Import VM (freebsd) to AWS

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