Making Copy of a Virtual Machine

A complete copy of a Virtual Machine can be created using Clone Virtual Machine Wizard. A new configuration file and new hard disk drive(s) are made. The clone includes as many hard drives as there are connected to an original machine. By default the Wizard puts new files into a new directory, but you may prefer to store them in an existing one. Copies of virtual hard disks are always placed in the same folder with the copy of the configuration file.

Auxiliary devices of the new virtual machine are connected to the same drives or disk images as the source devices. If source CD/DVD-ROM drive is connected to an .iso CD/DVD disc image file, this connection is restored in the new machine. The same is for floppy drive. However output files of serial/parallel ports, if used, are not transferred from the original VM. In the clone, they are started from scratch.

If a network adapter is included into the original configuration, a new MAC address is generated for the new adapter.

A Virtual Machine to be copied should be opened and meet the following conditions:

• The guest OS is not running. If it is running, menu item that starts the wizard is disabled.
• The Virtual Machine is not opened by another instance of the Parallels Workstation.
• It is not blank Virtual Machine. Blank Virtual Machines can not be copied.

To make a clone of a Virtual Machine:

1. Open Virtual Machine you want to make copy of.
2. Select Clone VM in the VM menu. Clone VM Wizard is started. Click Next.

   

3. On the next step, Specify new virtual machine name and location, you have to specify name of the clone and path for storing its configuration file. Name and path proposed by the wizard are made by adding "Clone of" in the beginning of the original Virtual Machine name and the path. You can modify both of them. Remember that a name of the Virtual Machine should be no longer than 50 symbols.

   If you select Open virtual machine in new window automatically option, then after new configuration is created it will be opened in a new Parallels Workstation window. Click Finish to start copying the machine.

   

   If the directory for storing Virtual Machine configuration file does not exist, the confirmation for its creation may be asked: "Directory <directory name> does not exist. Do you want to be created automatically?" Click Yes. New directory will be created.

4. While the Virtual Machine is being copied, the Copying in progress screen indicates current state of the process. If everything is OK, the Wizard informs you that copying has been performed and new machine is ready. Click Exit to close Wizard's window.

   

   The new instance of the Parallels Workstation is opened with the new virtual machine loaded, if you have selected the corresponding option on the Specify new virtual machine name and location screen.