VMware VM Template

A VM Template will speed the creation of subsequent VMs in VMware. This can be done programatically, but the most direct approach is to use the VMware web UI. This avenue offers two distinct ways to create a VM Template.

Convert an Existing VM to a VM Template

Note: When you convert a virtual machine to a template, you cannot edit or power on the template unless you convert it back to a virtual machine.

Prerequisites:
You must be connected to vCenter Server.

Process:

1. Before you convert a VM to a template, select it in the inventory and power it off.
2. Then, in the web UI, right-click on the VM that you want to convert.
3. Select Template > Convert to Template.
4. vCenter will mark the VM as a template, and a record of the event will be displayed in the Recent Tasks Pane.

Clone an Existing VM to Create a VM Template

Cloning a virtual machine to a template creates a template copy of the virtual machine while leaving the original virtual machine in place.

Prerequisites:
You must be connected to vCenter Server.

Process:

1. Right-click the virtual machine and select Template > Clone to Template.
2. Name the new template, select its inventory location, and click Next.
3. Pass through the target location page and click Next.
4. Specify your desired format for storing the template’s virtual disks and click Next.