VMware vSphere

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  • 1.  How can I create a cloned VM based on a snapshot?

    Posted Oct 10, 2011 01:37 PM

    In VMware Workstation, I can create a cloned VM based on a snapshot. How can I do this in ESXi or vCenter?



  • 2.  RE: How can I create a cloned VM based on a snapshot?

    Posted Oct 10, 2011 07:31 PM

    This KB article talks about many different ways to copy or clone a VM in ESXi

    http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1000936

    You can definitely clone a VM and I believe ones with snapshots but unless I missed it I don't think the Workstation 'Clone based on a snapshot' exists.

    Pete

    --------

    www.liquidwarelabs.com

    www.thevirtualheadline.com



  • 3.  RE: How can I create a cloned VM based on a snapshot?

    Posted Oct 10, 2011 09:14 PM

    qwer11121 wrote:

    In VMware Workstation, I can create a cloned VM based on a snapshot. How can I do this in ESXi or vCenter?

    Only one way I can think take another snapshot (for the current configuration).  Power off the VM, revert to that other snapshot, make the clone.  revert the most recent snapshot (for the newest current configuration). power on the VM.



  • 4.  RE: How can I create a cloned VM based on a snapshot?

    Posted Oct 11, 2011 07:02 AM

    "... create a cloned VM based on a snapshot"

    I think what you might be referring to is linked clones which indeed are available in VMware Workstation.. (and have been so for quite a while). Also available in VMware View ofc..

    What you could do, if having vCenter, is to write a Powershell script which does this... The ability to create linked clones using the vSphere API has been available since 4.0, AFAIK.. Dont know if it exists in the 5.0 API, though.. but I would expect it to.

    /Rubeck



  • 5.  RE: How can I create a cloned VM based on a snapshot?

    Posted Oct 11, 2011 08:05 AM

    In vCenter, you do it with build-in clone+template functions, it´s very simple!

    In ESXi, depending of your license features, you have this clone option available, or not.

    If you don´t have any tools of cloning, simplest way is just a copy VM to another folder, perhaps in some config files change the name of the machine and add it to inventory. There you have a cloned VM manually :smileyhappy:



  • 6.  RE: How can I create a cloned VM based on a snapshot?

    Posted Oct 11, 2011 07:13 PM

    exactly the same way as in Workstation - it just takes a few more steps with esxi

    have a look here - it describes how to create linked clones completely manually
    http://sanbarrow.com/linkedcloneswithesxi.html


    all manual edits are done on Windows using your admin host - so it is quite easy to follow


    if you are looking for a full clone use vmkfstools
    find out which snapshot vmdk you need
    then run
    vmkfstools -i master-vm-00000x.vmdk /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/path-to-full-clone-directory/clone.vmdk



  • 7.  RE: How can I create a cloned VM based on a snapshot?

    Posted Oct 12, 2011 02:17 AM

    Uli,

    Thanks for the post, I didn't realize that one.

    Pete



  • 8.  RE: How can I create a cloned VM based on a snapshot?

    Posted Mar 31, 2012 07:45 PM

    continuum would your approach work for a small VDI deployment (<10 users) instead of purchasing View?

    Also, is there a way of automating your linked clones method?

    Thanks



  • 9.  RE: How can I create a cloned VM based on a snapshot?

    Posted Apr 03, 2012 12:05 AM

    Sure - if you want to do some scripting this can be used as poor man's View

    if you need help send a PM