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Cloning VMs in ESXi Free edition

Howard Mukanda Virtualization, Windows October 28, 2016

 

VMware Esxi can be a great option for those trying to run a cheap home lab. Without VM tools, one can easily clone any existing VMs in no time. In this tutorial i am using my ESXi 6 host to clone CentOS7.

First, go to the configuration Tab, then select the datastore where the vms are stored. In my case, I have Server2012 iscsi storage.

C:\Users\Lahistic\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image001.png

Right click on the datastore and browse.

Machine generated alternative text: Refresh Delete dentification data storel server2012 sto Local DELL Disk(... rive ype Non-sæ apacl Y 128.00 GS 37.50 GS VMFS5 Add Storage.. 10/28/2016 AM 16 Rescan All... ar wart Not sup; Browse Datastore... Rename Unmount Delete Refresh Properties... Copy to Clipboard Ctrl+C

Add a new folder, and name it whatever you want your new machine folder to be. In this case, im adding centos7.

C:\Users\Lahistic\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image003.png

 

C:\Users\Lahistic\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image004.png

C:\Users\Lahistic\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image005.png

 

Once on Inventory rename the VM and power it on. You should now have a copy on your desired VM.

Machine generated alternative text: Add to Inventory Enter a name for this virtual machine Resource Pool Ready to Complete centos7-121 Virtual machine 01M) names may contain up to 80 characters and they must be unique within each vCenter Server VM folder VM folders are not viewable when connected directly to a host. To Vien VM folders and specify a location for this W, connect to the vCenter Server. < Sack

 

Final Thoughts

This is a really easy way of cloning machines. You still have to adjust your network settings (if youre adding the new machine to a different subnet than the original machine. You also have to rename the machine and use a different product key to activate it.

Domain joined machines that you clone may result in netbios errors that you need to resolve my renaming the clone to a different name.

About: Howard Mukanda