Cloning a VM on a ESX server with using Virtual Center

Without Virtual Center it is possible to clone a VM though there are a few more steps.

First create the target folder in your datastore, log into the command line and use “SU -” to log in as root.

Use the command “vmkfstools -i \vmfs\volumes\”datastore name”\”source folder name”\”source file”.vmdk \vmfs\volumes\”datastore name”\”target folder name”\”target file”.vmdk

Once the clone is complete you can create your new VM, point the disk source as the new vmdk file and Bob is your uncle!