# Local Virtual Images

A Local Virtual Image means it has been uploaded to VM Essentials. To provision, VM Essentials will need to upload the image to the provisioning target upon first provision.

- Ensure the Virtual Image is valid for the target Cloud, the Image meets the target cloud upload requirements, and VM Essentials has network access and permissions to upload the image.

NOTE

When uploading an image to a VMware Cloud, the Virtual Image is copied directly to the target ESXi host, NOT through the vCenter server. Ensure the VM Essentials Appliance(s) can resolve target ESXi hostnames and connect on port 443 for successful vmdk/ova uploads.

Once a local Virtual Image has been uploaded to a provisioning target, subsequent provisions will use the image local to the target instead of uploading again as long as the copied image is still available.
