Copying (duplicating VM) from remote machine onto local laptop

[gibbsw]

Locally (installed on my laptop) I have "VMware Workstation" and the "VMware Vsphere Client".  I use either of these two programs to access VMs installed on a remote ESXI server.  Is there any way with either of these two programs to copy (duplicate\backup) the VM located on the remote ESXI server onto my local laptop?  I want to make a backup of this VM (locally) before deleting it off the remote ESXI server.  I'm trying to avoid traveling to the remote site if possible.

Thank you in advance,

Wes

[mfelker]

Would depend on manyi facdtors.

1)  How  large is the VM?  Would it fit on any portable physical media.?

2) Bandwidth of your xfer usinig many protocals.

3)  Is this a one off situation or do you    need the VM's to be synced.

[gibbsw]

The VM is about 40GB, the external hard-drive that is connected to my laptop (locally) has enough space to store the VM.  I have a good Internet connection, I'm willing to have it copy for the hours that it takes to complete if that is what is required to get the task done.  It's a one time thing, they do not need to be sync'd, once I gete it copied and verify that the copy was successful, I would delete the remote VM.

[WoodyZ · Accepted solution]

Have a look at the following KB Articles: Moving or copying a virtual machine within a VMware environment & Moving or copying virtual disks in a VMware environment