RAPID VIRTUAL MACHINE CLONING

摘要

A management server clones a source virtual machine to a plurality of target host computers. For each target host, the management server creates linked clones of the source virtual machine in a target data store that is accessible to the target host. The management server starts execution of the linked clones in the target hosts. While the linked clones execute, for each target host, the management server creates full clones of the source virtual machine in the target data store and, after creating the full clones, suspends execution in the linked clones and resumes execution in the full clones.

主权项

1. A method of cloning virtual machines executing in a plurality of hosts connected to a computer network, wherein the plurality of hosts comprises a source host and a plurality of target hosts including a first target host, the method comprising:
receiving a request to clone a source virtual machine to the first target host, wherein the source virtual machine is stored on a source data store that is accessible to the source host and the first target host; creating a first linked clone of the source virtual machine on a first target data store, wherein the first target data store is accessible to the first target host; starting execution of the first linked clone on the first target host; while the first linked clone is executing on the first target host, creating a first intermediate clone of the source virtual machine on the first target data store; and after creating the first intermediate clone:
suspending execution in the first linked clone;updating the first intermediate clone based on a modified state of the first linked clone, wherein the updating transforms the first intermediate clone into a first full clone;and resuming execution in the first full clone.