> I'm new to VS2005 (well VS in all). I've created a 2003 Virtual Machine.
> Instead of having to create a new virtual machine and install another 2003
> server on it. Is it possible to just somehow clone that 1st VM? It would
> save a lot of setup time!
>
> Thanks!
> Jim
>

> Jim -- here's the outline of what to do -- it reads way more complicated
> in
> words than it actually is in practice once you've done it:
>
> 1) Find SYSPREP.EXE for use with WinServer 2003. Look on your CD or in the
> Win2003 resource kit. You may have to extract it from a CAB file. You may
> be
> able to find it on the Internet if you don't want to hassle around with
> CAB
> files.
> 2) Shutdown your existing 1st Win2003 Virtual Machine and make a copy of
> the
> .VHD hard drive file for that VM.
> 3) Start up your existing Win2003 VM again and once it's up and you're
> logged into it, set the NIC to get a DHCP address. Then run SYSPREP.
> That'll
> remove all the specialization for that VM (like the computer name of that
> Win2003 machine) and it'll automatically shutdown the VM at the end of the
> SYSPREP process.
> 4) Move the new .VHD that you SYSPREPed to someplace where you're going to
> locate your base files that you can use to replicate VMs in the future.
> You
> might, for instance, want to make base files of Win2003, WinXP, Win2000
> Server and Linux assuming you have licenses for all of that.
> 5) Put the original 1st Win2003 VM's .VHD file back in it's original place
> and boot it up to make sure it's all working properly.
>
> Now you're ready to create your 2nd VM that will utilize a copy of your
> SYSPREPed base VHD.
>
> 6) When you are ready to make a new VM, make a new VM wtih the Virtual
> Server admin interface but choose to make/assign the disk later in the
> configuration of the new VM. Match the config with the 1st VM just to make
> sure you've got the right hard drive controller and NIC chosen (you can
> always change the config later if you choose to).
> 7) Take your SYSPREPEd base Win2003 VHD that you've saved off
> previously --
> and make a copy of it, locating that VHD copy in the same directory as
> where
> you've located your 2nd VMs configuration file.
> 8) Use the Virtual Server admin interface and open the configuration of
> the
> 2nd VM again and point the lcoation of the hard drive file to the .VHD
> you've
> made for it (if you've located the VHD file in the same directory as the
> configuration file for the VM, the VHD file will show up in the list of
> VHD
> choices in the drop down combo box).
> 9) Boot the 2nd VM for the first time and it'll ask you for all the usual
> installation specific information (computer name for instance).
>
> Datto
>
> "Polymath5" wrote:
>
>> I'm new to VS2005 (well VS in all). I've created a 2003 Virtual Machine.
>> Instead of having to create a new virtual machine and install another
>> 2003
>> server on it. Is it possible to just somehow clone that 1st VM? It would
>> save a lot of setup time!
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Jim
>>

>Jim -- here's the outline of what to do -- it reads way more complicated in
>words than it actually is in practice once you've done it:
>
>1) Find SYSPREP.EXE for use with WinServer 2003. Look on your CD or in the
>Win2003 resource kit. You may have to extract it from a CAB file. You may be
>able to find it on the Internet if you don't want to hassle around with CAB
>files.
>2) Shutdown your existing 1st Win2003 Virtual Machine and make a copy of the
>.VHD hard drive file for that VM.
>3) Start up your existing Win2003 VM again and once it's up and you're
>logged into it, set the NIC to get a DHCP address. Then run SYSPREP. That'll
>remove all the specialization for that VM (like the computer name of that
>Win2003 machine) and it'll automatically shutdown the VM at the end of the
>SYSPREP process.
>4) Move the new .VHD that you SYSPREPed to someplace where you're going to
>locate your base files that you can use to replicate VMs in the future. You
>might, for instance, want to make base files of Win2003, WinXP, Win2000
>Server and Linux assuming you have licenses for all of that.
>5) Put the original 1st Win2003 VM's .VHD file back in it's original place
>and boot it up to make sure it's all working properly.
>
>Now you're ready to create your 2nd VM that will utilize a copy of your
>SYSPREPed base VHD.
>
>6) When you are ready to make a new VM, make a new VM wtih the Virtual
>Server admin interface but choose to make/assign the disk later in the
>configuration of the new VM. Match the config with the 1st VM just to make
>sure you've got the right hard drive controller and NIC chosen (you can
>always change the config later if you choose to).
>7) Take your SYSPREPEd base Win2003 VHD that you've saved off previously --
>and make a copy of it, locating that VHD copy in the same directory as where
>you've located your 2nd VMs configuration file.
>8) Use the Virtual Server admin interface and open the configuration of the
>2nd VM again and point the lcoation of the hard drive file to the .VHD you've
>made for it (if you've located the VHD file in the same directory as the
>configuration file for the VM, the VHD file will show up in the list of VHD
>choices in the drop down combo box).
>9) Boot the 2nd VM for the first time and it'll ask you for all the usual
>installation specific information (computer name for instance).
>
>Datto
>
>"Polymath5" wrote:
>
>> I'm new to VS2005 (well VS in all). I've created a 2003 Virtual Machine.
>> Instead of having to create a new virtual machine and install another 2003
>> server on it. Is it possible to just somehow clone that 1st VM? It would
>> save a lot of setup time!
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Jim
>>

> When I use the "other" virtual machine software, I simply used the
> newsid from SysInternals... It changes the name and the SID of the
> virtual machine, but I have NOT yet tried this approach with VS2K3.
> Mind you, this cannot be used if the server is a DC or already part of
> a domain.
>
>
> On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 17:13:04 -0800, "Datto"
> <(email address - cut out)> wrote:
>
>>Jim -- here's the outline of what to do -- it reads way more complicated in
>>words than it actually is in practice once you've done it:
>>
>>1) Find SYSPREP.EXE for use with WinServer 2003. Look on your CD or in the
>>Win2003 resource kit. You may have to extract it from a CAB file. You may be
>>able to find it on the Internet if you don't want to hassle around with CAB
>>files.
>>2) Shutdown your existing 1st Win2003 Virtual Machine and make a copy of the
>>.VHD hard drive file for that VM.
>>3) Start up your existing Win2003 VM again and once it's up and you're
>>logged into it, set the NIC to get a DHCP address. Then run SYSPREP. That'll
>>remove all the specialization for that VM (like the computer name of that
>>Win2003 machine) and it'll automatically shutdown the VM at the end of the
>>SYSPREP process.
>>4) Move the new .VHD that you SYSPREPed to someplace where you're going to
>>locate your base files that you can use to replicate VMs in the future. You
>>might, for instance, want to make base files of Win2003, WinXP, Win2000
>>Server and Linux assuming you have licenses for all of that.
>>5) Put the original 1st Win2003 VM's .VHD file back in it's original place
>>and boot it up to make sure it's all working properly.
>>
>>Now you're ready to create your 2nd VM that will utilize a copy of your
>>SYSPREPed base VHD.
>>
>>6) When you are ready to make a new VM, make a new VM wtih the Virtual
>>Server admin interface but choose to make/assign the disk later in the
>>configuration of the new VM. Match the config with the 1st VM just to make
>>sure you've got the right hard drive controller and NIC chosen (you can
>>always change the config later if you choose to).
>>7) Take your SYSPREPEd base Win2003 VHD that you've saved off previously --
>>and make a copy of it, locating that VHD copy in the same directory as where
>>you've located your 2nd VMs configuration file.
>>8) Use the Virtual Server admin interface and open the configuration of the
>>2nd VM again and point the lcoation of the hard drive file to the .VHD you've
>>made for it (if you've located the VHD file in the same directory as the
>>configuration file for the VM, the VHD file will show up in the list of VHD
>>choices in the drop down combo box).
>>9) Boot the 2nd VM for the first time and it'll ask you for all the usual
>>installation specific information (computer name for instance).
>>
>>Datto
>>
>>"Polymath5" wrote:
>>
>>> I'm new to VS2005 (well VS in all). I've created a 2003 Virtual Machine.
>>> Instead of having to create a new virtual machine and install another 2003
>>> server on it. Is it possible to just somehow clone that 1st VM? It would
>>> save a lot of setup time!
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>> Jim
>>>
>
>
> Serge Ayotte
> [remove the SPOUM to contact me]

>Jim -- here's the outline of what to do -- it reads way more complicated in
>words than it actually is in practice once you've done it:
>
>1) Find SYSPREP.EXE for use with WinServer 2003. Look on your CD or in the
>Win2003 resource kit. You may have to extract it from a CAB file. You may
>able to find it on the Internet if you don't want to hassle around with CAB
>files.
>2) Shutdown your existing 1st Win2003 Virtual Machine and make a copy of
>.VHD hard drive file for that VM.
>3) Start up your existing Win2003 VM again and once it's up and you're
>logged into it, set the NIC to get a DHCP address. Then run SYSPREP.
>remove all the specialization for that VM (like the computer name of that
>Win2003 machine) and it'll automatically shutdown the VM at the end of the
>SYSPREP process.
>4) Move the new .VHD that you SYSPREPed to someplace where you're going to
>locate your base files that you can use to replicate VMs in the future. You
>might, for instance, want to make base files of Win2003, WinXP, Win2000
>Server and Linux assuming you have licenses for all of that.
>5) Put the original 1st Win2003 VM's .VHD file back in it's original place
>and boot it up to make sure it's all working properly.
>
>Now you're ready to create your 2nd VM that will utilize a copy of your
>SYSPREPed base VHD.
>
>6) When you are ready to make a new VM, make a new VM wtih the Virtual
>Server admin interface but choose to make/assign the disk later in the
>configuration of the new VM. Match the config with the 1st VM just to make
>sure you've got the right hard drive controller and NIC chosen (you can
>always change the config later if you choose to).
>7) Take your SYSPREPEd base Win2003 VHD that you've saved off previously --
>and make a copy of it, locating that VHD copy in the same directory as
>you've located your 2nd VMs configuration file.
>8) Use the Virtual Server admin interface and open the configuration of the
>2nd VM again and point the lcoation of the hard drive file to the .VHD
>made for it (if you've located the VHD file in the same directory as the
>configuration file for the VM, the VHD file will show up in the list of VHD
>choices in the drop down combo box).
>9) Boot the 2nd VM for the first time and it'll ask you for all the usual
>installation specific information (computer name for instance).
>
>Datto
>
>"Polymath5" wrote:
>
>> I'm new to VS2005 (well VS in all). I've created a 2003 Virtual Machine.
>> Instead of having to create a new virtual machine and install another
>> server on it. Is it possible to just somehow clone that 1st VM? It would
>> save a lot of setup time!
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Jim
>>

> Jim -- here's the outline of what to do -- it reads way more complicated in
> words than it actually is in practice once you've done it:
>
> 1) Find SYSPREP.EXE for use with WinServer 2003. Look on your CD or in the
> Win2003 resource kit. You may have to extract it from a CAB file. You may be
> able to find it on the Internet if you don't want to hassle around with CAB
> files.
> 2) Shutdown your existing 1st Win2003 Virtual Machine and make a copy of the
> .VHD hard drive file for that VM.
> 3) Start up your existing Win2003 VM again and once it's up and you're
> logged into it, set the NIC to get a DHCP address. Then run SYSPREP. That'll
> remove all the specialization for that VM (like the computer name of that
> Win2003 machine) and it'll automatically shutdown the VM at the end of the
> SYSPREP process.
> 4) Move the new .VHD that you SYSPREPed to someplace where you're going to
> locate your base files that you can use to replicate VMs in the future. You
> might, for instance, want to make base files of Win2003, WinXP, Win2000
> Server and Linux assuming you have licenses for all of that.
> 5) Put the original 1st Win2003 VM's .VHD file back in it's original place
> and boot it up to make sure it's all working properly.
>
> Now you're ready to create your 2nd VM that will utilize a copy of your
> SYSPREPed base VHD.
>
> 6) When you are ready to make a new VM, make a new VM wtih the Virtual
> Server admin interface but choose to make/assign the disk later in the
> configuration of the new VM. Match the config with the 1st VM just to make
> sure you've got the right hard drive controller and NIC chosen (you can
> always change the config later if you choose to).
> 7) Take your SYSPREPEd base Win2003 VHD that you've saved off previously --
> and make a copy of it, locating that VHD copy in the same directory as where
> you've located your 2nd VMs configuration file.
> 8) Use the Virtual Server admin interface and open the configuration of the
> 2nd VM again and point the lcoation of the hard drive file to the .VHD you've
> made for it (if you've located the VHD file in the same directory as the
> configuration file for the VM, the VHD file will show up in the list of VHD
> choices in the drop down combo box).
> 9) Boot the 2nd VM for the first time and it'll ask you for all the usual
> installation specific information (computer name for instance).
>
> Datto
>
> "Polymath5" wrote:
>
> > I'm new to VS2005 (well VS in all). I've created a 2003 Virtual Machine.
> > Instead of having to create a new virtual machine and install another 2003
> > server on it. Is it possible to just somehow clone that 1st VM? It would
> > save a lot of setup time!
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Jim
> >