How to clone vmware image inside vmware Esxi server through ssh terminal.

最近拿到兩台舊版的VMWARE Esxi server 可以用來玩系統，發現要deploy ova tempalte實在有夠麻煩，查了一下似乎

可以直接再vwmare 裡面直接clone image 這樣速度最快，下列是從vmware 官網直接複製天上的說明步驟

 

Cloning a virtual machine disk without delta files or snapshots

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

1. Log in to the terminal of the ESXi/ESX host. (需要先開啟ssh 的服務  Configuration-> Security Profile : Enable SSH)
   
   
2. Navigate to the virtual machine's directory using the cd command. It is located at:
   
   /vmfs/volumes/source_datastore/virtual_machine/    （我的預設是/vmfs/volumes/datastore1)
3. Confirm the destination directory where the clone will be copied to. Create this directory, if required.
   
   For example, if this destination directory does not exist:
   
   /vmfs/volumes/destination_datastore/virtual_machine/
   
   Create the directory using this command:
   
   mkdir /vmfs/volumes/destination_datastore/virtual_machine/
   
   
4. Clone the virtual hard disk using the vmkfstools -i command after shutting down the virtual machine:
   
   # vmkfstools -i /vmfs/volumes/Storage1/examplevm/examplevm.vmdk /vmfs/volumes/Storage2/examplevm_clone.vmdk
   
   You see output similar to:
   
   Destination disk format: VMFS thick
   Cloning disk '/vmfs/volumes/Storage1 (3)/examplevm/examplevm.vmdk'...
   Clone: 100% done.
   
   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 thinto the end of the preceding command.
     
     For example:
     
     # vmkfstools -i /vmfs/volumes/Storage1/examplevm/examplevm.vmdk /vmfs/volumes/Storage2/examplevm_clone.vmdk -d thin

Cloning a virtual machine disk with delta files or snapshots

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

1. Log in to the ESXi/ESX host's terminal. 
   
   
2. Navigate to the virtual machine's directory using the cd command. It is located at:
   
   /vmfs/volumes/source_datastore/virtual_machine/
   
   
3. Confirm the destination directory where the clone will be copied to. Create this directory, if required.
   
   For example, if this destination directory does not exist:
   
   /vmfs/volumes/destination_datastore/virtual_machine/
   
   Create the directory using this command:
   
   mkdir /vmfs/volumes/destination_datastore/virtual_machine/
   
   
4. Clone the virtual hard disk from its current snapshot delta point using the vmkfstools -i command.
   
   # vmkfstools -i /vmfs/volumes/Storage1/examplevm/examplevm-000003.vmdk /vmfs/volumes/Storage2/examplevm_clone.vmdk
   
   You see output similar to:
   
   Destination disk format: VMFS thick
   Cloning disk '/vmfs/volumes/Storage1 (3)/examplevm/examplevm-000003.vmdk'...
   Clone: 100% done.