ESXi 4.1.0 Update 1: How to make a clone VM via CLI

~ # vmware -v VMware ESXi 4.1.0 build-348481

create a directory for a clone VM

~ # mkdir /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/CLONE

make a clone VM with vmkfstools command.

vmkfstools –i “/parh/original VM.vmdk” “/path/clone VM.vmdk”

~#vmkfstools -i /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ORIGINAL/ORIGINAL.vmdk /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/CLONE/CLONE.vmdk Destination disk format: VMFS zeroedthick Cloning disk '/vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ORIGINAL/ORIGINAL.vmdk'... Clone: 100% done. ~ #

copy original VM’s vmx file to clone VM’s directory.

# cp ../ORIGINAL/ORIGINAL.vmx CLONE.vmx

modify vmx file

# cat CLONE.vmx | grep -v "ethernet0.generatedAddress = " | grep -v "ethernet0.generatedAddressOffset = " | grep -v "uuid.location = " | grep -v "uuid.bios = " | sed 's/'"ORIGINAL"'/'"CLONE"'/g' > vmx.tmp | echo 'uuid.action = "keep"' >> vmx.tmp # cp vmx.tmp CLONE.vmx

register a clone VM

please note that you need to specify full path.

# /bin/vim-cmd solo/registervm /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/CLONE/CLONE.vmx