How To Create A VMware Template

Since not long ago we were into installing a virtual web server on VMware server, I thought I’d show you how to clone a a virtual machine. The difference this week is that I moved from VMware Server to VMware Workstation, the reason being that I am now working on a Windows Vista host computer. It seemed that VMware Server would freeze for a few seconds from time to time on Windows Vista as only VMware Workstation is 100% supported on this operating system.

Eventually I should move back to VMware Server on a CentOS host but right now I’ve got hardware problems with my Linux box.

Cloning A VMware Virtual Machine 

Since I plan on testing various web hosting setups (different OS, servers dedicated to a particular task, different control panels), I made myself a virtual machine template so that I can create new servers within a few clicks.

The first thing I’ve done is to setup a fresh clean CentOS 5.1 server (but you can setup any OS you want it doesn’t matter at all). When you’re done installing, configuring and tweaking your server, shut it down. In order to be able to create a template from this machine, you first have to edit its settings from the VMware console. From the Options tab, click on Advanced and check Enable Template mode to be used for cloning.

Next you need to create a snapshot of this virtual machine if you haven’t already done so. Right-click on the machine name from the left panel and select Take Snapshot. You’ll be invited so enter a name for this snapshot (I called mine Clean Install).

So now that you’ve enabled template mode and that a snapshot has been taken, you’re ready to create new virtual machines from this one. Again from the left panel, click on the virtual machine you want to clone and select Clone… From the wizard screen, select the snapshot from which you want to create a clone.

On the next screen, you’ll be asked if you want to either create a linked clone or a full clone. A linked clone will always need to have access to its source template while a full clone is totally independent. I rather create a full clone since I happen to move my virtual machines from one host to another.

Before you boot your newly create machine, I suggest you disconnect the virtual ethernet adapter. This will allow you to change its hostname to prevent having duplicate computer name on the same network.

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