⁠10.4. Creating Virtual Machines

10.4.1. Creating a Virtual Machine
10.4.2. Creating a Virtual Machine Based on a Template
10.4.3. Creating a Cloned Virtual Machine Based on a Template

⁠10.4.1. Creating a Virtual Machine

Summary
You can create a virtual machine using a blank template and configure all of its settings.
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Procedure 10.1. Creating a Virtual Machine

  1. Click the Virtual Machines tab.
  2. Click the New VM button to open the New Virtual Machine window.
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    The New Virtual Machine Window

    Figure 10.1. The New Virtual Machine Window

  3. On the General tab, fill in the Name and Operating System fields. You can accept the default settings for other fields, or change them if required.
  4. Alternatively, click the Initial Run, Console, Host, Resource Allocation, Boot Options, Random Generator, and Custom Properties tabs in turn to define options for your virtual machine.
  5. Click OK to create the virtual machine and close the window.
    The New Virtual Machine - Guide Me window opens.
  6. Use the Guide Me buttons to complete configuration or click Configure Later to close the window.
Result
The new virtual machine is created and displays in the list of virtual machines with a status of Down. Before you can use this virtual machine, add at least one network interface and one virtual disk, and install an operating system.

⁠10.4.2. Creating a Virtual Machine Based on a Template

Create virtual machines based on templates. This allows you to create virtual machines that are pre-configured with an operating system, network interfaces, applications and other resources.

Note

Virtual machines created based on a template depend on that template. This means that you cannot remove that template from the Manager if there is a virtual machine that was created based on that template. However, you can clone a virtual machine from a template to remove the dependency on that template.
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Procedure 10.2. Creating a Virtual Machine Based on a Template

  1. Click the Virtual Machines tab.
  2. Click the New VM button to open the New Virtual Machine window.
  3. Select the Cluster on which the virtual machine will run.
  4. Select a template from the Based on Template list.
  5. Select a template sub version from the Template Sub Version list.
  6. Enter a Name, Description, and any Comments, and accept the default values inherited from the template in the rest of the fields. You can change them if needed.
  7. Click the Resource Allocation tab.
  8. Select the Thin radio button in the Storage Allocation area.
  9. Select the disk provisioning policy from the Allocation Policy list. This policy affects the speed of the clone operation and the amount of disk space the new virtual machine initially requires.
    • Selecting Thin Provision results in a faster clone operation and provides optimized usage of storage capacity. Disk space is allocated only as it is required. This is the default selection.
    • Selecting Preallocated results in a slower clone operation and provides optimized virtual machine read and write operations. All disk space requested in the template is allocated at the time of the clone operation.
  10. Use the Target list to select the storage domain on which the virtual machine's virtual disk will be stored.
  11. Click OK.
The virtual machine is displayed in the list in the Virtual Machines tab.

⁠10.4.3. Creating a Cloned Virtual Machine Based on a Template

Summary
Cloned virtual machines are similar to virtual machines based on templates. However, while a cloned virtual machine inherits settings in the same way as a virtual machine based on a template, a cloned virtual machine does not depend on the template on which it was based after it has been created.

Note

If you clone a virtual machine from a template, the name of the template on which that virtual machine was based is displayed in the General tab of the Edit Virtual Machine window for that virtual machine. If you change the name of that template, the name of the template in the General tab will also be updated. However, if you delete the template from the Manager, the original name of that template will be displayed instead.
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Procedure 10.3. Cloning a Virtual Machine Based on a Template

  1. Click the Virtual Machines tab.
  2. Click the New VM button to open the New Virtual Machine window.
  3. Select the Cluster on which the virtual machine will run.
  4. Select a template from the Based on Template drop-down menu.
  5. Select a template sub version from the Template Sub Version drop-down menu.
  6. Enter a Name, Description and any Comments. You can accept the default values inherited from the template in the rest of the fields, or change them if required.
  7. Click the Resource Allocation tab.
  8. Select the Clone radio button in the Storage Allocation area.
  9. Select the disk provisioning policy from the Allocation Policy drop-down menu. This policy affects the speed of the clone operation and the amount of disk space the new virtual machine initially requires.
    • Selecting Thin Provision results in a faster clone operation and provides optimized usage of storage capacity. Disk space is allocated only as it is required. This is the default selection.
    • Selecting Preallocated results in a slower clone operation and provides optimized virtual machine read and write operations. All disk space requested in the template is allocated at the time of the clone operation.
  10. Use the Target drop-down menu to select the storage domain on which the virtual machine's virtual disk will be stored.
  11. Click OK.

Note

Cloning a virtual machine may take some time. A new copy of the template's disk must be created. During this time, the virtual machine's status is first Image Locked, then Down.
Result
The virtual machine is created and displayed in the list in the Virtual Machines tab. You can now assign users to it, and can begin using it when the clone operation is complete.