# Importing a FileWave Appliance into Scale Computing (OVA → QCOW2)

## Overview

This article explains how to deploy a **FileWave Server appliance (OVA)** on a **Scale Computing HyperCore** cluster.

Scale does not natively support VMware/VirtualBox OVA imports. To run the FileWave appliance, you must:

- Extract the OVA
- Convert the virtual disk
- Create a VM manually
- Attach the converted disk

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for macOS and Windows.

---

## Prerequisites

- Scale HyperCore cluster access
- ~2x disk space of the OVA size
- Required Tools: 
    - **macOS:**
        - Terminal
        - Homebrew
        - qemu
    - **Windows:**
        - QEMU (CLI) ***OR*** StarWind V2V Converter (GUI)

---

## Step 1: Download the Appliance

1. Navigate to FileWave Downloads:  
    [https://kb.filewave.com/books/downloads](https://kb.filewave.com/books/downloads)
2. Select your FileWave version.
3. Download the **VMware/VirtualBox OVA**

[![image.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-05/scaled-1680-/MociInkGZoiA1Bxt-image.png)](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-05/MociInkGZoiA1Bxt-image.png)

---

## Step 2: Extract the OVA

The OVA is a tar archive.

### macOS / Linux

```bash
#Make a directory for the .ova files to be extracted to
mkdir ~/Downloads/fw-ova/
cd ~/Downloads/fw-ova/
#Extract the files
#If the file wasn't saved to your Downloads, change the directory
tar -xvf ../FileWave_Server_Debian_*.ova
```

### Windows

- Right-click → Extract (7-Zip or WinRAR)

Expected output:

```text
FileWave_Server_Debian.ovf
FileWave_Server_Debian.mf
FileWave_Server_Debian-disk-0.vmdk
FileWave_Server_Debian-disk-1.nvram
```

👉 Only the `.vmdk` file is required.

---

## Step 3: Convert VMDK → QCOW2

Scale works best with QCOW2 disks.

### macOS

Install QEMU:

```bash
brew install qemu
```

Convert:

```bash
cd ~/Downloads/fw-ova/
qemu-img convert -p -f vmdk -O qcow2 FileWave_Server_Debian-disk-0.vmdk FileWave_Server.qcow2
```

---

### Windows (QEMU CLI)

```powershell
qemu-img.exe convert -p -f vmdk -O qcow2 FileWave_Server_Debian-disk-0.vmdk FileWave_Server.qcow2
```

---

### Windows (GUI Option)

Using StarWind V2V Converter:

1. Open StarWind V2V
2. Select VMDK
3. Output format: QCOW2
4. Complete wizard

📸 *Screenshot: StarWind conversion wizard*

---

## Step 4: Create a VM in Scale

Create a new VM manually.

📸 *Screenshot: Scale “Create VM” screen*

### Required Settings

<table id="bkmrk-setting-value-firmwa"><thead><tr><th>Setting</th><th>Value</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Firmware</td><td>BIOS (Legacy)</td></tr><tr><td>CPU</td><td>4–8 vCPU</td></tr><tr><td>RAM</td><td>8–16 GB</td></tr><tr><td>NIC</td><td>Intel E1000</td></tr></tbody></table>

⚠️ **Critical:**

- Do NOT use UEFI
- Do NOT attach disk yet (or remove placeholder disk)

---

## Step 5: Upload &amp; Attach Disk

1. Navigate to Control Center &gt; Media
2. Upload `FileWave_Server.qcow2` to Scale
3. Attach to VM

[![image.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-05/scaled-1680-/VOknOhVqpyuY3zcz-image.png)](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-05/VOknOhVqpyuY3zcz-image.png)

[![image.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-05/scaled-1680-/eWMBl7EfPUb8pzvb-image.png)](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-05/eWMBl7EfPUb8pzvb-image.png)

### Disk Configuration

```text
Disk Type: IDE
Disk Slot: 0
Bootable: Yes

```

### Boot Order

```text
IDE Disk (slot 0) → First

```

---

## Step 6: Boot the Appliance

Start the VM.

Expected result:

- Debian boots
- FileWave login prompt appears

---

## Default Credentials

```text
Username: fwadmin
Password: filewave
```

You will be prompted to change the password.

---

## Troubleshooting

### ❌ No Bootable Device

- VM must be BIOS
- Disk must be IDE
- Boot order must point to the disk

---

### ❌ Kernel Panic / Root FS Missing

- Disk conversion issue
- Retry conversion
- Ensure the correct VMDK is used

---

## Why This Works (Important)

The FileWave appliance is built for VMware:

```text
Disk Controller: LSI Logic SCSI
NIC: VMXNET3
Firmware: BIOS
```

Scale uses different virtual hardware:

```text
Disk: IDE / VirtIO
NIC: E1000 / VirtIO
```

Because Scale does not support VMware’s SCSI or VMXNET3 directly:

- The disk must be converted
- The VM must be recreated with compatible hardware
- IDE is used for maximum boot compatibility

---

## Optimization (Optional)

After successful boot:

- Test switching disk to VirtIO
- Test switching NIC to VirtIO

⚠️ Only do this after confirming a stable boot

---

## Summary

1. Download OVA
2. Extract files
3. Convert VMDK → QCOW2
4. Create BIOS VM
5. Attach the disk as IDE
6. Boot

---

## Support

If you encounter issues, please contact FileWave Support or your Professional Services representative.