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How to clone a virtual machine with VMWare Server

Posted on 14/10/2007, 1:09 pm, by Colin Charles, under Linux, Software, Ubuntu, Virtualization.

There didn’t seem like a clear way to make a copy (or clone) of a virtual machine with VMWare Server. Not with the 1.0.3 build-44356 which comes standard with the Ubuntu Commercial repository (one of the good virtues of Ubuntu).

So, I fired up the console, and did:
cp -ax Centos\ 5/ Centos\ 5-new

It took 4m5.643s to copy this on my laptop hard disk (only 1.5GB). I loaded it into VMWare, via their Open a virtual machine option, renamed it in the inventory, powered my new virtual machine on and was asked if I’d like to create a new UUID for it. I’d advise you to create one, and once that was done, my virtual machine is ready to go.


Create a new UUID, and you’re set

Exactly what I like. Not re-installing CentOS everytime. Just create a “golden” image and start cloning from there. Maybe with some slack/puppet integration in the future, if I end up using a lot of VMs.

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  • @Mel: Maybe it does

    @JZA: note that there is a new release of virtualbox out now!
  • Mel Beckman
    I tried this with VMWare Server 1.05, but it never prompted me to create a new UUID. However, everything seems to be running fine. Perhaps it always does that automatically now.
  • JZA
    I am more keen into using VirtualBox since is more open and free software-like.
  • Matt
    Nice one. I believe the Workstation version has a clone tool, which can make either a new, separate machine or a new machine linked to the 'parent' machine....not checked it out though.

    This method is nice and simple....thanks
  • @lotso: thats a given, with VMs mate.. but the fact that they're useful for "clean-room" environment testing, makes it all the more convenient/worthwhile
  • lotso
    and w/o you knowing it, you end up with gigs and gigs of HD spaace gone..
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