Cloning a virtual machine disk without delta files or snapshots

Post date: Feb 16, 2016 1:51:47 PM

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

1. Log in to the terminal of the ESXi/ESX host.
2. Navigate to the virtual machine's directory using the cd command. It is located at:
   1. /vmfs/volumes/source_datastore/virtual_machine/
3. Confirm the destination directory where the clone will be copied to. Create this directory, if required.
   1. For example, if this destination directory does not exist:
   2. /vmfs/volumes/destination_datastore/virtual_machine/
   3. Create the directory using this command:
   4. mkdir /vmfs/volumes/destination_datastore/virtual_machine/
4. Clone the virtual hard disk using the vmkfstools -i command after shutting down the virtual machine:
   1. # vmkfstools -i /vmfs/volumes/Storage1/examplevm/examplevm.vmdk /vmfs/volumes/Storage2/examplevm_clone.vmdk
   2. You see output similar to:
   3. Destination disk format: VMFS thick
   4. Cloning disk '/vmfs/volumes/Storage1 (3)/examplevm/examplevm.vmdk'...
   5. Clone: 100% done.
   6. 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 want the destination disk to be thin provisioned, add -d thin to the end of the preceding command.
        • For example:
        • # vmkfstools -i /vmfs/volumes/Storage1/examplevm/examplevm.vmdk /vmfs/volumes/Storage2/examplevm_clone.vmdk -d thin

REF : https://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1027876