VMware vSphereThe difference Clonebetween andTemplate
| Clone | Template |
|---|---|
| Clone creates an exact copy of a running virtual machine during the cloning process | A template serves as a baseline image of a virtual machine with a configuration predefined according to organizational standards. |
| Cloning a virtual machine creates an identical copy of a virtual machine with the same configuration and installed software, without any additional setup. | Create a template to create a master image of a virtual machine from which multiple virtual machines can be deployed |
You can create a clone of an existing installed and configured running virtual machine by right-clicking and cloneselecting . |
You can create templates by converting virtual machines to templates, cloning virtual machines to templates, or cloning other templates. ( 个人觉着挺高级的，哈哈) |
| VM cloning is best suited for test and development environments where you want to create, test, and work; use an exact copy of your production server without disturbing it by creating a clone of your production virtual machine. | Templates are best suited for production environments, where you want to use virtual machines as base VMs for large-scale deployments, along with an installed operating system, basic software, and configured settings such as your organization's security policies. After the template is deployed, you can install software, such as IIS or a database, depending on the server's role. |
| VM cloning is not suitable for large-scale deployment of virtual machines. | Templates are best suited for large-scale deployments of virtual machines. |
| The cloned virtual machine exists independently and cannot be converted. | The template can be converted back to a virtual machine to change the base template with the latest released patches and updates, and to install or upgrade any software, and then converted back to the template again for future deployment of the virtual machine with the latest patches. |
| The cloned virtual machine can be powered on. | The template cannot be started at boot. |
You cannot clone a virtual machine if you connect vSphere Clientdirectly . vSphere Web Clickcan be created. |
If you connect vSphere Clientdirectly to ESX/ESXithe host using , you cannot create a virtual machine template. vSphere Web Clickcan be created. |
| A cloned third-party (eg copied from elsewhere) operating system can be customized to change the virtual machine name, network settings, and other attributes. This prevents possible conflicts when simultaneously deploying virtual machines and clones with the same third-party OS settings. | New VM from This TemplateYou can ( ) customize the third-party (such as copying from other places) operating system when deploying from the template . |
| Create a clone of the virtual machine when the virtual machine starts | Unable to convert a virtual machine to a template while the virtual machine is powered on. It can only be executed when the virtual machine is powered on Clone to Template(cloned as a template). |
[Note] The template function still needs to be distinguished 将虚拟机转换为模板（Convert to Template）, 将虚拟机克隆为模板（Clone to Template）and 将其他模板克隆为模板.
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