Here's some alternate cloning methods I've documented...
How can I clone a VM without using VirtualCenter? - There are several methods for doing this:
• You can use Vmware Converter to do this.
o Download Converter and install it on your workstation
o Launch Converter and select "Import Machine"
o For the Source Type select "ESX Server or VirtualCenter virtual machine"
o Enter your ESX Server name that your source VM is located on and enter in the username/password
o Choose your source VM
o Choose to import all disks and maintain size or select the disks you wish to include and re-size if necessary
o For the Destination Type select "ESX Server or VirtualCenter virtual machine"
o Enter your ESX Server name that your destination VM will be located on and enter in the username/password
o Enter a new Virtual Machine name
o Select a ESX host or resource pool
o Select a Datastore for this new VM
o Select your NIC's and Networks
o Enter any customization information and select to install VMware Tools or not
o Once the conversion process completes and the VM is powered on you can then run a utility such as NewSid to change the SIDs on the new VM. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/Security/NewSid.mspx
o You can also run Sysprep on the original VM prior to copying it. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457067.aspx
• You can also use vmkfstools
o Using the VI Client create a new VM on the ESX host and specify any size hard drive (It will not let you create a VM without a hard drive).
o Edit the new VM's settings and remove and delete the hard drive
o Login to service console
o The format for vmkfstools -i (import) is source vmdk filename first followed by the destination vmdk filename (use the path of the new VM you created)
o Type "vmkfstools -i /vmfs/volumes/ESX-Local/templates/2003-template.vmdk /vmfs/volumes/ESX-Local/mynewvm/mynewvm.vmdk"
o Edit the VM's settings, add a Hard Disk, select use an existing disk and browse to your VM's directory and select your new disk file
o Once the VM is powered on you can then run a utility such as NewSid to change the SIDs on the new VM. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/Security/NewSid.mspx
o You can also run Sysprep on the original VM prior to copying it. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457067.aspx
• You can use this user created Perl script to create clones
o http://www.pgregg.com/projects/vmclone/
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Thanks, Eric
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