Cloning Path and Network Usage

[SecEng]

Hi All,

I am currently evaluating esxi 4.0 U1 and vcenter 4.0 U1.

Currently my delpoyment is two physyical esxi servers with all local storage, Server A and Server B. On Server A is a VM running vcenter.

My question is: If using vcenter to clone a VM on server A and have its destination be Server A, no traffic or usage is done by vcenter, the Server A will do all the work locally correct so the path is Server A -> Server A?

Now part two, If using vcenter to clone a VM on server A and have its destination be

Server B, will the VM go from Server A -> vcenter machine -> Server B?

What about if I choose the customize image option does that affect any of the above answers? Thanks

[AndreTheGiant · Accepted solution]

An cloning "internal" of a ESX works locally.

But it will use storage resources... to there still an impact of performance (only on storage side).

A cloning between ESXs use also the network (the service console, or the management interface) and, of course, the storage.

Andre

[SecEng]

Thanks for the answer to my questions, What about if you choose to customize the image using the sysprep files that are needed locally on the vCenter server, is that still ESX->ESX?

Thanks

[AndreTheGiant]

Customizing the the final step and is done between vCenter and the ESX that own the VM (the vCenter will mount the vmdk to add the sysprep tools).

The template deploy is a normal clone procedure.

Andre

[SecEng]

Awesome thanks for the answers.