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VMMyke
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? Can a Virtual Disk in VM Ware ESX 4.x be cloned and mounted under a new Guest OS?

I am running a small VM Ware ESX 4.0.0 Build 219382. 3 Hosts all with only local storage no SAN or NAS attached. Can I clone a WIN2K3 R2 non Bootable partition and mount it under a new WIN2K3 R2 Guest OS? I do Have Virtual Center.

Can this be done without taking down the original live production Guest OS?

Somthing tells me this can be done & I am open to suggestions.

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lamw
Community Manager
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Yep, you can use vmkfstools to clone the disk and then mount it with another VM

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

Twitter: @lamw

VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators

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lamw
Community Manager
Community Manager
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Yep, you can use vmkfstools to clone the disk and then mount it with another VM

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

Twitter: @lamw

VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators

VMware Developer Community

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

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Troy_Clavell
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both VM's are on the same local storage? If so, I would say the easiest thing to do is to power down the first VM to get the HDD removed from the inventory of the guest. When that is complete, add HDD and use existing and attach to your new guest.

.....or use Williams suggestion

binoche
VMware Employee
VMware Employee
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let production Guest OS running, then log in VC, select this Guest and clone, you will have a new cloned OS;

binoche, VMware VCP, Cisco CCNA

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