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The existing virtual machine is called the parent virtual machine. Two types of clones are available
for creation: linked clones and full clones. Linked clones are created more quickly than full clones,
but are dependent on the parent virtual machine. Full clones take longer to create, but are
completely independent of the parent virtual machine.
Changes made to a clone do not affect the parent virtual machine, and changes made to the
parent virtual machine do not appear in a clone. The MAC address for a clone is different from the
parent virtual machine.
Using Linked Clones
A linked clone is a copy of a virtual machine that shares virtual disks with the parent virtual
machine in an ongoing manner. You can create linked clones only by using Fusion Pro.
Because a linked clone is created from a snapshot of the parent, disk space is conserved and
multiple virtual machines can use the same software installation. All files available on the parent at
the moment you take the snapshot continue to remain available to the linked clone.
Ongoing changes to the virtual disk of the parent do not affect the linked clone, and changes
to the disk of the linked clone do not affect the parent. A linked clone must have access to the
parent. Without access to the parent, you cannot use a linked clone.
Because linked clones are created quickly, you can create a unique virtual machine for each task.
You can also share a virtual machine with other users by storing the virtual machine on your local
network where other users can quickly make a linked clone. For example, a support team can
reproduce a bug in a virtual machine, and an engineer can quickly make a linked clone of that
virtual machine to work on the bug.
You can make a linked clone from a linked clone, but the performance of the linked clone
degrades. It is recommended that you make a new linked clone of the original parent virtual
machine, when possible. If you make a full clone from a linked clone, the full clone is an
independent virtual machine that does not require access to the linked clone or its parent.
Important You cannot delete a linked clone snapshot without destroying the linked clone. You
can safely delete the snapshot only if you also delete the clone that depends on it. Also, moving
the linked clone or the parent virtual machine breaks the connection between the linked clone and
parent.
Since a linked clone has a dependency on the parent, you cannot delete a parent if it has a clone.
You must first delete all linked clones and snapshots before you can delete the parent virtual
machine.
Using Full Clones
A full clone is a complete and independent copy of a virtual machine. A full clone shares nothing
with the parent virtual machine after the cloning operation. Ongoing operation of a full clone is
separate from the parent virtual machine. You can create full clones only with Fusion Pro.
Using VMware Fusion
VMware, Inc. 84