Installation guide

Working with Templates and Clones 14
A template is a master copy of a virtual machine that can be used to create and provision new virtual machines.
This image typically includes a specified operating system and configuration that provides virtual counterparts
to hardware components. Typically, a template includes an installed guest operating system and a set of
applications.
Templates coexist with virtual machines at any level within the template and virtual machine domain. You
can order collections of virtual machines and templates into arbitrary folders and apply a variety of permissions
to both virtual machines and templates. Virtual machines can be transformed into templates without requiring
a full copy of the virtual machine files and the creation of a new object.
You can use templates to create new virtual machines by deploying the template as a virtual machine. When
complete, the deployed virtual machine is added to the folder chosen by the user.
To view templates, select the datacenter and click the Virtual Machines tab. All virtual machines and templates
for the datacenter are visible from here. Virtual machines and templates have different icons.
This chapter includes the following topics:
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“Creating Templates,” on page 169
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“Edit a Template,” on page 171
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“Change Template Name,” on page 172
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“Deploy Virtual Machines from Templates,” on page 172
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“Convert Templates to Virtual Machines,” on page 173
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“Deleting Templates,” on page 173
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“Regain Templates,” on page 174
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“Clone Virtual Machines,” on page 174
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“Create a Scheduled Task to Clone a Virtual Machine,” on page 175
Creating Templates
Templates can be created by using an existing virtual machine or cloning a virtual machine or existing template.
You can create a template by:
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Using an existing virtual machine in place. This process converts the original virtual machine.
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Cloning a virtual machine to a template.
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Cloning an existing template.
VMware, Inc.
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