Re: Copying VM Clone to remote host?

Cloning a virtual machine disk without delta files or snapshots

To clone a virtual machine disk using the ESX/ESXi host terminal:

1. Log into the terminal of the ESX/ESXi host.
   
   
2. Navigate to the virtual machine's directory using the cd command. It is located at:
   
   /vmfs/volumes/source_datastore/virtual_machine/
   
   
3. Confirm the destination directory where the clone will be copied to. Create this directory, if required.
   
   For example, if this destination directory does not exist:
   
   /vmfs/volumes/destination_datastore/virtual_machine/
   
   Create the directory using this command:
   
   mkdir /vmfs/volumes/destination_datastore/virtual_machine/
   
   
4. Clone the virtual hard disk using the vmkfstools -i command after shutting down the virtual machine:
   
   # vmkfstools -i "/vmfs/volumes/Storage1 (3)/examplevm/examplevm.vmdk" /vmfs/volumes/Storage2/examplevm_clone.vmdk
   
   Notes:
   
   • Encapsulate objects with quotes where appropriate to ensure spaces and other special characters are interpreted correctly.
   • By default, the vmkfstools -i command will create a destination thick provisioned disk. If you would like the destination disk to be thin provisioned, add -d thin to the end of the above command.
   The output appears similar to:
   
   Destination disk format: VMFS thick
   Cloning disk '/vmfs/volumes/Storage1 (3)/examplevm/examplevm.vmdk'...
   Clone: 100% done.

Cloning a virtual machine disk with delta files or snapshots

To clone a virtual machine disk using the ESX/ESXi host terminal:

1. Log into the ESX/ESXi host's terminal.
   
   
2. Navigate to the virtual machine's directory using the cd command. It is located at:
   
   /vmfs/volumes/source_datastore/virtual_machine/
   
   
3. Confirm the destination directory where the clone will be copied to. Create this directory, if required.
   
   For example, if this destination directory does not exist:
   
   /vmfs/volumes/destination_datastore/virtual_machine/
   
   Create the directory using this command:
   
   mkdir /vmfs/volumes/destination_datastore/virtual_machine/
   
   
4. Clone the virtual hard disk from its current snapshot delta point using the vmkfstools -i command.
   
   # vmkfstools -i /vmfs/volumes/Storage1 (3)/examplevm/examplevm-000003.vmdk /vmfs/volumes/Storage2/examplevm_clone.vmdk
   
   The output appears similar to:
   
   Destination disk format: VMFS thick
   Cloning disk '/vmfs/volumes/Storage1 (3)/examplevm/examplevm-000003.vmdk'...
   Clone: 100% done.
   
   Note: If the process fails, try selecting the next snapshot delta point in the snapshot tree. The selected point or one of its parents may be corrupt.