Clone / copy vmware virtual machine without boot??

[thesunlover]

Hi,

I've cloned some vmware virtual machines without problems. Now my question is if I can clone a virtual machine without booting it. The key thing is if vmkfstools command can be used to clone the virtual disk(s) without booting the virtual machine.

Thank you!

[jamesbowling]

You can clone a VM either hot or cold.  Are you talking about using a customization spec without booting the VM?

[thesunlover]

I've used the cloning method refered here: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=100093...

I want to know if I can do it without booting the original virtual machine. The most important: if vmkfstools command will affect the running production server.

Thanks.

[jamesbowling]

If the original VM is powered off then you could use vmkfstools -i <source> <dest> to clone a VMDK.  If you are wanting to clone the VM in vCenter you can just right-click and clone it regardless if it is online or offline.  I hope that I am understanding what you are trying to do here.

[thesunlover]

(1) The virtual server is on and hopefully will not need to power off during the process of cloning.

(2) I'll use the vmware server's Linux shell to clone its virtual servers.

(3) No vCenter involved.

Thanks!

[jamesbowling]

Ahhh...I believe that you have to shutdown the VM in order to use vmkfstools.  I could be mistaken but I believe this to be true.