Are you looking for a robust Proxmox VE backup solution? Try Vinchin Backup & Recovery!↘ Download Free Trial In the realm of modern IT infrastructure, virtualization technologies have become indispensable. They offer businesses the flexibility to operate multiple operating systems and applications on a single server, thereby optimizing hardware utilization and reducing overall costs. Among these technologies, Proxmox stands out as a powerful virtualization platform.
This article provides an in-depth guide on cloning a virtual machine in Proxmox, a process that facilitates the creation of identical copies of VMs for various purposes such as testing, backup, or migration.
Understanding Proxmox
Proxmox is an open-source server virtualization management solution. It offers the ability to manage virtual machines, containers, storage, virtualized networks, and high availability clusters. Proxmox combines two virtualization technologies, KVM and LXC, providing a robust and versatile platform for managing VMs.
When creating a virtual machine, we simulate various hardware components such as the motherboard, CPU, memory, and hard disk. However, in addition to these components, we need to add and upload the corresponding operating system ISO image for the virtual machine. Then, we need to perform disk partitioning, system installation, and initialization configurations after the system installation is complete.
These tasks can be complex and time-consuming, especially when we need to create multiple virtual machines. This approach may become somewhat restrictive. So, the question arises: Is there a way to quickly create virtual machines in Proxmox VE?
The answer is: Yes, there is. Proxmox VE provides two methods to facilitate the rapid creation of virtual machines: Full Clone and Linked Clone.
The Importance of Cloning VMs in Proxmox
Cloning a VM involves creating an exact replica of a virtual machine, including its operating system, installed applications, and system settings. This process is particularly useful in several scenarios:
Testing: Cloning enables the creation of a testing environment that mirrors your production environment. This allows the testing of updates, patches, or new applications without risking disruptions in your live environment.
Backup: VM clones serve as a form of backup. In the event of system failure or data loss, operations can be quickly restored using the cloned VM.
Migration: If you need to move a VM to another server, cloning can simplify the process. Instead of configuring a new VM from scratch, you can create a clone and move it to the new location.
Full Clone
Full Clone is a method that involves making a 1:1 copy of an existing VM (regardless of whether it is running or stopped) to create a new, independent VM. The new VM will occupy completely separate disk space, but it will generate unique MAC and UUID values.
To quickly create a VM using Full Clone:
Assuming you have already created a VM, completed the initial setup, and installed the necessary software, you can proceed to create a new VM by copying the existing one.
1. Select the corresponding VM, right-click on it, and choose “Clone”.
2. A settings menu will appear, allowing you to make adjustments according to your needs.
Target Node: Specifies the node on which the newly created VM will run.
VM ID: A unique identifier for the virtual machine. Proxmox VE automatically selects an unused ID, but you can also set it manually.
Name: The name of the VM.
Target Storage: Specifies the storage location for the newly created VM.
Clicking on “Clone” will initiate the copying process.
3. Patiently waiting for it to finish. Afterward, you can proceed with starting the VM and configuring the network settings. Once these steps are completed, the VM will be ready for use and can be delivered.
Linked Clone
Linked Clone is based on COW technology, where a writable copy is created that initially shares the same content and data as the original. The process of generating a linked clone is very fast, almost instantaneous, and consumes very little storage space upon creation.
To enable Linked Clone functionality, Proxmox VE requires the source image to be in a “Read-Only” state. To achieve this, Proxmox VE offers a template feature, which allows you to convert a VM into a read-only template. Once the template is created, you can then use it as a basis for creating linked clones.
It is possible to convert a VM into a template. However, once a VM is converted into a template, it cannot be converted back into a VM and cannot be powered on for use.
Before converting a VM into a template, please keep the following in mind:
The VM should not have any snapshots.
The VM must be in a powered-off state.
To convert a VM into a template, follow these steps:
Select the relevant VM, right-click on it, choose the “Convert to Template” option.
Upon triggering the conversion process, a confirmation window will pop up. To proceed with the conversion, simply click on “Yes.” Once the conversion is complete, you will notice a distinct change in the icon, indicating the successful transformation into a template.
Creating Linked Clone based on a template
Select the corresponding template - right-click - Clone
A new window will pop up, allowing you to configure various parameters for the cloning process. Choose Linked Clone.
Wait a moment, and our virtual machine will be created swiftly, exhibiting remarkable speed.
Then you can start the clone and ensure it functions as expected.
Simplify your Proxmox VE VM protection
Cloning a VM in Proxmox is a useful operation when you want to replicate a VM’s setup without having to configure everything from scratch. But to better protect your virtual machines, it is always recommended to backup your PVE VMs and critical data with a professional solution.
Vinchin Backup & Recovery is a robust Proxmox VE environment protection solution, which provides advanced backup features, including automatic VM backup, agentless backup, LAN/LAN-Free backup, offsite copy, effective data reduction, cloud archive and etc., strictly following 3-2-1 golden backup architecture to comprehensively secure your data security and integrity.
For recovery, Vinchin Backup & Recovery provides instant VM recovery, which could shorten RTO to 15 seconds by running the VM directly through its backup. You can also choose file-level granular restore to extract specifical files from Proxmox VE VM backup.
Besides, data encryption and anti-ransomware protection offer you dual insurance to protect your Proxmox VE VM backups. You can also simply migrate data from a Proxmox host to another virtual platform and vice versa.
To easily protect your Proxmox virtual environment, you can try Vinchin Backup & Recovery which has been selected by thousands of companies and you can also start to use this powerful system with a 60-day full-featured trial! Also, contact us and leave your needs, and then you will receive a solution according to your IT environment.
Conclusion
Cloning a VM in Proxmox is a straightforward process that can significantly streamline your operations, whether for testing, backup, or migration. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can efficiently create identical copies of your VMs, enhancing your virtual environment’s flexibility and resilience.
