Vista - How to I make a clone copy of a VM

I created a vm of win xp and joined it to the domain so I could connect to
the internet. then I updated it with all service packs and updates so its
what I call 'golden'. I then made 2 copied it my simply doing a copy-paste
on it's parent folder. One was to be an extra backup copy, and the second
copy was for installing sql sever, VS, etc. however, when I started up the
copy (now called xpdev) I could not connect to the internet, or even see the
domain. I spent hours messing around with the tcp/ip props, un-joined the
domain and tried to re-join the domain. however now I can't re-join the
domain. Is there a conflict by using a copy of a vm? what's the correct
way to make a copy of a vm? I would like to have many VMs with different
configurations, but want to save on the work of installing the OS and all
updates for each one. isn't there a way to make one golden VM, and the make
many good working copies of it?

Thanks.

--
moondaddy@xxxxxx

On Sun, 1 Mar 2009 00:26:42 -0600, "moondaddy"
<moondaddy@xxxxxx> wrote:
Your problem is that you have "copied the folder".....
This creates a copy that is *exactly* the same as the one you started
from including the MAC address of the network card and the SID and PC
name of the Windows operating system. All of these will prohibit the
PC:s from connecting to the domain.

In your scenario I would start over and do the following:

1) Create a new virtual machine and install the operating system
including all updates etc to make the *base* PC from which to start
off.
Do *not* join this PC to any domain.

2) Once you are satisfied that this is the base you want, then
*sysprep* the PC and close it. This PC will *never* start up again.

3) Now make the VHD file of this PC read only in your host.

4) Delete the VMC file connected to this PC, to make sure it won't try
to start by any future human mistake. You only need the VHD disk image
file.

5) In the VPC disk Wizard create a *new* virtual disk as a
"differencing disk" where you select the VHD from above as parent.
Place this into a folder of its own.

6) Copy the new folder as many times as you want PC:s to work on.

7) Now, for *each* new PC you need use the VPC new virtual machine
wizard to create one and make sure that the VMC file is saved in one
of the created copy folders.

8) When the time comes for the VHD, then point the wizard to the
differencing child disk in the folder of this machine.

9) Repeat as needed.

10) Now all you have to do is to start up each virtual machine and
since it was syspreped you need to supply licensing info etc but the
operating system will be fully installed so you do not need to do
anything for that.
Also rename the PC to a unique name and attach to the domain as
needed.

This will make each virtual machine unique and therefore able to join
the domain as a unique PC.

I might have forgotten some step above but someone will surely fill in
the omissions....

--

Bo Berglund (Sweden)

> Is there a conflict by using a copy of a vm? what's the correctThe SID is the same on all machines that way, and if two are running
at the same time, there's no way to tell them apart by the domain
controller.

You need to change the SID and it would be a good idea to make sure
the NIC ID is different as well. (in the VMC settings)

To change the SID:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb897418.aspx

--
Bob Comer


On Sun, 1 Mar 2009 00:26:42 -0600, "moondaddy"
<moondaddy@xxxxxx> wrote:

I can second this advice I use Newsids all the time at work when I use Ghost
to put an image on a computer. You can also change the name of the computer
with Newsids and when it reboots just join the computer to the Domain.

"Robert Comer" <bobcomer-removeme-@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:l13lq490o0pqd8k63s1po9ktcv2o9ontu0@xxxxxx