creating multpile vitual machines with a .vmdk file.

[mhahmed01]

Actually I am facing problems creating multiple virtual machine with the .vmdk file.

I have uploaded the .vmdk file on the datastore and created a virtual machine with that file and want to create another virtual machine with the same file. Is this possible or I have to upload the file again and create virtual machine.??

Thanks.

[vmroyale]

Note: Discussion successfully moved from Forums to VMware ESXi 5

Which products/licenses are you working with?

[mhahmed01]

Product: VMware vSphere 5 Hypervisor Licensed for 1 physical CPUs (unlimited cores per CPU)

[vmroyale]

The Export To OVF functionality in the vSphere Client might be the easiest way to do this.

You could also use the vmkfstools command in the ESXi Shell to copy the disk.

[mhahmed01]

I have uploaded the .vmdk file to the datastore and created one virtual machine, there is requirement of more virtual machines of the same file.It is impractical to upload the same file multiple times.

Sorry to say Export To OVF functionality is not active on my vSphere client console. Is this because of my license constraints?

Suggest me an ideal way to do this.

[admin]

Create one virtual machine first. Then convert that VM into template and then create multiple VMs from the template

[mhahmed01]

I have created VM and I find no option for create template when i right click on the VM.??

[admin]

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-51/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.vmware.vsphere.vm_admin.doc%2FGUID-846238E4... cCheck the link

[mhahmed01]

I got the point but I am unable to see the option for creating template when I right click on the created VM and I am not sure if my vSphere Client is directly connected to an ESX/ESXi host.

How do i verify that.?

[sripati]

Hello ,

You must be connected to vCenter Server to clone a virtual machine to a template. You cannot create templates if you connect directly to an ESXi host.. So please check if you are directly connected to the Host .

[mhahmed01]

Yes it is directly connected to the Host. May be that is reason I unable to create template.

Thank you all.

[sripati]

In case you are not sure to which VC the ESXI host is connected , please login to to your ESXI Host . cat vpxd.log (var/log/vmware) . check for the Ip of the VC .

When you are connecting to the ESXI Host via the Vsphere client also you get the message that the ESXI or ESX host is managed by some VC .

[a_p_]

With the free Hypervisor, your options are indeed limited and exporting/importing OVF (should work even with the free license) could be one way to achieve your goal. Another option is to backup the VM and restore to a new VM (using e.g. Trilead's VM Explorer).

André

[mhahmed01]

I am sure it is directly connected to ESXi host as we have used Eucalyptus cloud as the VC.

[TomHowarth]

the ability to create and use templates is a function of vCenter. as you are using the free Hypervisor version it is very unlikely you would have access to this.

[vmroyale]

Export to OVF requires the VM to be powered off.

[mhahmed01]

I tried that but still I have no visibility to Export to OVF option.

[vmroyale]

If you select the powered-off VM in the vSphere Client, and then use the File -> Export -> Export OVF Template menu item, is not available or is it greyed out?

[mhahmed01]

This option is available but can we deploy .vmdk file with this option File -> Export -> Export OVF Template...??

[vmroyale · Accepted solution]

You would use this option to export an entire VM and then import it later.

So you would create a basic VM with that .VMDK attached to it and then export it. You could then import it multiple times with a new name and customize as required from there.