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Claude Constantinescu

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Create new VM server using existing vmdk file

Can I create a new VM machine exactly like the one I have using existing vmdk file?
Thanks
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Richardson Porto
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Yes you can, just tell us which VMware product you're using and we can provide additional details.
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Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
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Claude Constantinescu

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Yes, I have VMware VSphere, thanks!
If you have vCenter Server you can use CLONE.

otherwise see my EE Article I posted.
I attached a print screen of the VM I have, thanks!
-VM-version.JPG
You are attached direct to the host, ESXi.

It does not look like you are connected to vCenter Server or have vCenter Server.

So follow my article, to clone.
I looked through the instructions, what if I want to clone the VM machine to a different VM host, and the datastore is on a physical drive? Can I do that?
You can cut and paste between datastores.

if you want to transfer to a different host, then follow this article

HOW TO: Backup (Export) and Restore (Import) virtual machines to VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 for FREE
I have 3 VM clients I want to clone but their vmdk files are huge (143 GB, 215 GB and 1.2 TB) and I don't have enough disk space on that host, can I export them directly to an external drive?
Also, one of the servers is a DNS server and one is an SQL server, does that make a difference?
Thanks!
I have 3 VM clients I want to clone but their vmdk files are huge (143 GB, 215 GB and 1.2 TB) and I don't have enough disk space on that host, can I export them directly to an external drive?

Yes.

Also, one of the servers is a DNS server and one is an SQL server, does that make a difference?

No. They need to be OFF for the Export.
If I have a file.vmdk and a file_1.vmdk, which one I use to create the clone? Thanks
How do I add the External Drive to the Datastore so I can save the vmdk files to the external drive directly? I know how to add to a virtual machine, but how do I see it on the host so I can save to it? I don't want to create a destination folder for the clone on the same datastore because I don't have the disk space, I want to create it on the external drive. Thanks.
How do I add the External Drive to the Datastore so I can save the vmdk files to the external drive directly?

I'm afraid external drives are not supported, being connected to the host.

you will have to connect the external drive to your PC, and download the files to that.
How do I download vmdk files to my PC? I can only see them when I Browse Datastore!
select the file, and click download.

if you are trying to move/clone files to another server, it's best to export and import.

see this EE Artice l  wrote

HOW TO: Backup (Export) and Restore (Import) virtual machines to VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 for FREE
Your documentations says that I could restore a OVF Template to a Hyper-V machine, but I do not see the Deploy option in Hyper-V and if I select Import Virtual Machine, it does not recognize the OVF template