7.8.1. Creating a Clone Definition

Cloning a virtual machine or template means making a copy of it, so that you can create multiple virtual machines or templates from the original. When you create an advanced clone a virtual machine or template, you must first create a clone definition to set up the clone parameters, such as networking, and the virtual disk, and ISO resources.

To create a clone definition:

  1. Select the virtual machine or template and display the Clone Virtual Machine or Template dialog box by:

    • Virtual Machine: In the Home view, select the virtual machine to clone in the navigation pane, right click and select Clone... from the menu.

    • Virtual Machine Template: In the Home view click Server Pools in the navigation pane, then open the Templates tab in the management pane. Select the template to clone and click Clone...

  2. Select Create New Clone Definition and click Next.

  3. Enter a Name and Description for the clone definition, and click Next.

  4. Select the virtual disks in the template that you want to include in the clone from the Disk column, and the type of storage on which to store the cloned virtual disks from the Clone Target Type drop down. Click Next.

  5. Select the storage location for the cloned virtual disks from the Clone Target drop down, and click Next.

  6. Select whether to use sparse or non-sparse files for the virtual disks, or to use thin cloning in the Clone Type drop down.

    If you select thin cloning of a virtual disk, you can create a cloned virtual disk with minimal disk space usage. The original virtual disk is used as a base read-only disk, and any copies created from this clone definition only require disk space to store differences in the new virtual disks.

    Click Next.

  7. Select the VNICs from the template that you want to include in your clone definition, and the Ethernet Network to which they should belong. Click Finish.

The clone definition is now available to use to create a virtual machine, or template. See Section 7.8, “Cloning a Virtual Machine or Template” for information on using the clone definition to create a virtual machine or template.

You cannot display a list of all the available clone definitions. To see the clone definitions for a virtual machine or template, select the virtual machine or template and display the Clone Virtual Machine or Template dialog box.