How to create linked clone on the vcenter?

[go2success]

For vm clone, there are 2 typies of clone, full clone and linked clone.

But in the GUI, there is no option for linked clone. How to create the linked clone on the vcenter?

[Photubias]

Old thread but still ...

Not possible with a normal vCenter (neither Web nor C#), you would need VMware View to do that officially.

I have scripts to do it from ESXi point of view (not even vCenter needed), but that would be completely un-official and thus unsupported ...

[admin]

Photobias, Could you share the scripts.?

~dGeorgey

[Photubias]

Hi,

My notes are attached, it contains the source, some explanation and some scripts. They're not written to be shared (just for me), but I'll think you'll understand.

[abhilashhb]

This is the actual link

sanbarrow.com

it would be better to give the author some credits

And also refer to the notes photubias had made.

[Photubias]

Yes, that is the link, it is also in my  notes and was my source, but I changed some things my self to make it easier scriptable...

[abhilashhb]

Yes thanks for it. Only required steps have been noted down by you. I just thought it would be good because it has more info.

[NavalgundRaj]

Hi

1. Select the virtual machine to use as a parent of your linked clone.

2. Verify that the parent has at least one snapshot. Open the snapshot manager and create a snapshot if none exists.

3. Verify that template mode has been enabled.

See Protecting the Parent of Linked Clones.

4. With the virtual machine still selected, launch the Clone Virtual Machine Wizard.

5. Click Next to display the Clone Source panel.

6. Select a snapshot from the drop-down menu and click Next.

Note: The wizard does not allow you to clone from the current state when the virtual machine has template mode enabled.

7. Name the linked clone and click Finish.

Workstation creates the linked clone and displays a status panel.

8. Click Done to exit the wizard.

[Photubias]

Not really a relevant answer is it?

Question was for vCenter, not Workstation.

Although I do know that this forum is that of Workstation.

[Linjo]

Moderator note: Moved the thread to the vCenter section to avoid confusion.

// Linjo

[lporreco]

Out of the box workflows exist in vRealize Orchestrator for creating Windows and Linux linked clones in vCenter 6.

There is a helper workflow to prepare a VM for a linked clone but you can also just create a master VM, shut it down, take a snap shot, and change the master to a template to protect it. Then run the >Library>vCenter>Virtual Machine Management>Clone>Linked Clone>Windows Customization> "Linked Clone with sigle NIC and credential" Workflow to create a basic windows linked clone.