{
  "id": 3085023,
  "title": "VMware Appliance OVF Properties update through CLI",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/vmware-appliance-ovf-properties-update-through-cli",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-24T18:33:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/ashishchorge/vmware-appliance-ovf-properties-update-through-cli-1mh2"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "This article explains how to update VMware appliance OVF properties using the command line when access to the Virtual Center is not possible, but VMs can be accessed through the ESX UI. To begin, log in to the VM as root. Execute the ovfenv command with the specific OVF properties to be changed. For instance, to modify the NTP server details, navigate to the VM scripts folder containing the firstboot and subsequent boot scripts. Use the command 'cd /opt/vmware/vcf/commonsvcs/scripts/' to change to the correct directory. Within this folder, there are several scripts, including 'update-ntp_server.sh', 'setup-ntp.sh', and 'refresh-ntp.sh'. To change the NTP server, execute the 'update-ntp_server.sh' script. After making the necessary changes, reboot the VM to apply the updates.",
  "summary": "This article is to update VMware appliance ovf properties through command line. Sometimes we cannot access VC and only can access VMs through ESX UI. Check over properties exists in VM login to VM as root and execute ovfenv command root@vcf91-installer [ ~ ]# ovfenv [vm.vmname]=VCF-SDDC-Manager-Appliance-9.1.0.0300.25536191 [ROOT_PASSWORD]= [LOCAL_USER_PASSWORD]=…",
  "key_points": [
    "Update VMware appliance OVF properties via CLI when Virtual Center access is unavailable.",
    "Log in as root, navigate to VM scripts folder, and execute ovfenv command.",
    "Modify NTP server details with update-ntpserver.sh script, then reboot VM."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}