clone question

[fafa24]

Dear all,

When I clone an existing VM, will the new VM be associated in the datastore (as a refernece) or is a clone separate?

Not sure how it works.

Thanks

[RParker]

If you clone, what you will get is a NEW VM with the same specs as the old one. That's it. If you gave it a new VM name, then it will be a completely separate VM. New registered VM.

[LarsLiljeroth]

Hi

A clone is a copy of a server's settings and disk files. You can customize it to change Name, Sid, IP.... etc.

So no reference to the source datastore ( disk files )


// Lars Liljeroth

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[AndreTheGiant]

Linked clone does not exist yet in ESX.

Except when you use VMware View Composer for deploy multiple VM "client" using a same master.

Andre

[fafa24]

Okay thank you very helpful to make things clear for me.

May I ask another question, what is a template? Will become VM from a template separate too?

[RParker · Accepted solution]

May I ask another question, what is a template? Will become VM from a template separate too?

A template is basically a VM. You mark a VM, you update patches, and make it the way you want other VM's to look like. From a template you can customize settings (name of VM, domain member / no a domain member, etc..) from Sysprep or in VM terms customization settings. A template is just a deploy VM from which other VM's are copied from. It's the same as a clone, biggest difference is it's a shared VM, and once you mark it as a template it becomes the master, if you will for ALL other VM's from that point on.

You can have many templates. It's a great way to keep a plain VM with no data, and user data, that you deploy other VM's.

[fafa24]

Thanks very helpful explained.