How can I make a copy/clone of an existing virtual machine?

[EFighter]

I have VM Fusion 2.0.2 running on my MacBook. I have several virtual machines running, and i would like to copy one of them and use it as a starting point of a new virtual machine. I know how to take a check point, but what i want to do is create a seperate independant isolated new machine from an existing machine. is this possible?

I have VM workstation 6 running on a PC and i know i can do it there by cloning the virtual machine, i just want to do something similar.

[RDPetruska]

Just do manually what Workstation does with the Clone function:

Note: This assumes your VM does not have any snapshots!

1. Power down the guest OS and VM. Exit Fusion.

2. Browse to the VM's parent folder. Copy the entire VM's folder and rename it whatever you want.

3. Open the new folder and rename the individual VM's files. You will need to edit the vmx file to change the Display name (so you can tell the VMs apart in the Fusion interface), and the filename of the virtual disk (and any other filename such as the nvram file).

3a. If you are not using a monolithic sparse virtual disk, you need to edit the disk descriptor file and change the filenames of the other virtual disk files.

4. Run the new VM. Tell Fusion you "Copied it", so a new UUID and MAC address for the virtual NIC(s) are generated. In the guest OS, change the computer name.

4a. If this is a Windows OS, you will also need to run NewSID or similar utility to change the computer's SID.

[WoodyZ · Accepted solution]

Licensing issues aside...

With the target Virtual Machine shutdown, not suspended...

Ctrl-click the target Virtual Machine entry in Virtual Machine Library and select Show in Finder and then close Fusion.

Ctrl-click the target Virtual Machine Package in Finder and select Duplicate and this will create a copy of the target Virtual Machine Package in the naming convention of " copy" and you can rename the Package by selecting it and pressing Enter.

Open Fusion and drag and drop the copied/renamed Virtual Machine Package on to the Virtual Machine Library at which point you can change its display name from the Virtual Machine Library.

The first time you start the copied/renamed Virtual Machine be sure to select "I copied it".

Note: If you're using Windows then you will need to run NewSid to change the Computers Name and Security Identifier. Also if Windows and not a VLK version you will need to Activate Windows again.

[EFighter]

WoodyZ,

Thanks. That worked. it was very easy to do and very fast, it took longer for the Mac to 'Duplicate' the VM than it did for me to drag-drop-rename.

[mtjt2010]

i followed instructions, but no where do i see a place to check "I copied it" Where do i do this?

[WoodyZ]

You can't check "I copied it" because it's not a check box, it's a button and it should show when you run a copy of an existing Virtual Machine for the first time after it's created or a Virtual Machine that's been moved to a new location.

[shamrox]

I too am interested in copying a virtual machine but for backup purposes. Would the process be ,having located the virtual machine,

1. Make a duplicate.

2. drag the copy from my operational HD to my backup HD.

3. In the event it is needed I would adjust the name and drop it on the Fuzion Library window and select copied on startup.

Does that sound reasonable?

Would a Retrospect copy work as well?

Would a Time Machine copy work?