Cloning a VM creates a VM with the same hardware configuration, OS, applications, and data as the original. The clone has a new vNIC MAC address and UUID.
When you specify a storage pool other than the one of the source VM for storing the image file of the clone, make sure the remaining size of the storage pool of the source VM is larger than the disk size of the clone.
On the top navigation bar, click VMs. If multiple clusters exist in the system, you must also select a cluster from the left navigation pane.
Select a VM, click More on the VM tile, and then select Clone, or select a VM from the navigation pane to access the VM overview page, and then click Clone.
Set the parameters as described in "Parameters" to complete cloning the VM.
Basic Info
Source VM: Alias of the source VM to be used as the cloning source.
Alias: Enter the alias of the clone.
Clone Type: Select a clone type.
Standard.
If you clone a shutdown VM whose disk type is file, the clone VM and the source VM have identical disk data. If the source VM uses a level-3 image, the clone VM and the source VM share the basic disk image.
If you clone a shutdown VM whose disk type is RBD block, the disks of the clone VM are combined into a level-1 image. The clone VM does not share the disk image with the source VM. In this scenario, normal clone has the same effect as full clone.
If you clone a running VM, the disks of the clone VM are combined into a level-1 image. The clone VM does not share the disk image with the source VM. In this scenario, normal clone has the same effect as full clone.
Fast—This method creates a VM based on increment files. The clone shares the disk base image with the source VM and does not have the incremental disk data of the source VM. This method increases the VM creation speed and saves storage space on servers. Only VMs that use thin-provisioned disks support fast clone.
Full—The clone and the source VM have identical disk data. The clone uses a level-1 image and does not share a disk image with the source VM. If multiple VMs are created by using this method, the storage space required for clones is the size of the source VM multiplied by the number of the clones.
Clone Destination: Select the clone destination.
Intra-Host—The source VM and the clone are on the same host.
Inter-Host—The source VM and the clone are on different hosts.
Start Now: Set whether to start the clone immediately after cloning is finished.
Storage Info
Target Storage File: Specify a target storage file for the VM.
Target Storage Pool: Specify a target storage pool for the VM.
Set Format: Set the disk format for the clone. You can configure this parameter for full clone of a source VM that uses unencrypted disks or standard clone of a source VM that does not use multi-level images.
Unchanged—The disk format will keep unchanged.
Qcow2—The disk format is qcow2.
Raw—The disk format is raw. This format has high I/O efficiency, but a VM using this disk format does not support internal snapshots.
Provisioning: Select a volume provisioning mode. Options include Thin, Delay Zeroed, and Zeroed.
Thin—Allocates only as much storage space as the volume requires for its initial operations when the volume is created. If the volume requires more storage space later, you can allocate as much storage space as the volume requires as long as the maximum storage size is not exceeded. To select the thin provisioning mode, you must first enable the thin provisioning mode on the system parameter configuration page.
Delay Zeroed—Allocates the specified maximum storage size to the volume when the volume is created. Data remaining on the physical device is not erased during creation, but is zeroed out on first write from the VM.
Zeroed—Allocates the specified maximum storage size to the volume when the volume is created. Data remaining on the physical device is zeroed out during creation. It might take a longer time to create volumes in this mode than to create volumes in other modes.
Network Info
Network Parameters: Set the network parameters for the clone.
Default—Does not configure network parameters for the clone.
DHCP—Uses DHCP to configure network parameters for the clone.
Manual—Allows you to manually configure network parameters for the clone.
Primary DNS: Enter the IP address of the primary DNS server.
Secondary DNS: Enter the IP address of the backup DNS server.