Virtual Data Center: Cloning Existing Instances

Virtual Data Center: Cloning Existing Instances

You can clone your cloud VM without stopping it. There are several ways to do this.

1. Take A Snapshot

This method is suitable for cases where you do not need to delete the source instance.

To create a snapshot, select CREATE SNAPSHOT in the drop-down menu next to the VM being cloned.

CREATE SNAPSHOT

In the window that opens, enter the name of the snapshot, then click CREATE SNAPSHOT.

CREATE SNAPSHOT

This will automatically redirect you to COMPUTE — IMAGES. A snapshot of your instance will appear on the PROJECT tab. Select LAUNCH in the drop-down menu next to the instance name.

LAUNCH

The Launch Instance window will open, where you can create a VM based on the snapshot you just took.

Launch Instance window will open

Read more about creating and configuring instances from images here.

Attention! You will not be able to delete the source volume and the snapshot itself whilst there are other volumes based on this snapshot. If you wish to delete the source volume, use the following method.

2. Using The Image

This method is suitable for cases when you need to delete the original VM. It involves unloading the volume as an image or backup.

Go to COMPUTE — VOLUMES, next to the desired volume in the drop-down menu, then select CREATE SNAPSHOT.

CREATE SNAPSHOT

In the window that opens, enter the name of the volume and click CREATE VOLUME SNAPSHOT (FORCE).

CREATE VOLUME SNAPSHOT (FORCE)

You will automatically be referred to the VOLUME SNAPSHOTS tab in COMPUTE — VOLUMES and the snapshot you have just created will appear in the list. Select CREATE VOLUME in the drop-down menu next to your snapshot.

CREATE VOLUME

In the window that opens, fill in the required fields, and click CREATE VOLUME.

CREATE VOLUME

The volume you created will appear on the VOLUMES tab with the AVAILABLE status.

The volume you created will appear on the VOLUMES tab

If you wish to create a large number of clones, you must save the created volume as an image. To do this, select the UPLOAD TO IMAGE drop-down menu item next to the selected volume.

UPLOAD TO IMAGE

In the image upload window that opens, enter the image name and specify the volume format. We recommend that you choose the QCOW2 — QEMU Emulator disk format — in order to slightly reduce the space used in your image storage.

QCOW2 — QEMU Emulator

In COMPUTE — IMAGES, within the PROJECT tab, you will see an image of your instance that you can use to create your VMs. Read more about creating instances from images in our guide.

PROJECT

You can also create a backup through the CREATE BACKUP menu item opposite the volume you created.

CREATE BACKUP

In the window that opens, enter the name of the backup and click CREATE VOLUME BACKUP.

VOLUME BACKUP

The created backup will appear on the VOLUME BACKUPS tab. To create one or several volumes from this copy, click RESTORE BACKUP in the drop-down menu opposite the required copy.

RESTORE BACKUP

In the window that opens, select CREATE A NEW VOLUME in the SELECT VOLUME drop-down menu, then click RESTORE BACKPUP TO VOLUME.

RESTORE BACKPUP TO VOLUME

The new volume will appear in the list. You can connect it with an additional volume to another VM, or create a new instance on its basis.

The new volume will appear in the list

After you've uploaded the image or created a backup, you can delete the snapshot and the source volume for the backup and image, if needed.

The source instance and its source volume are independent of backups and images and can also be deleted if required.

SCROLL UP

Spelling error report

The following text will be sent to our editors: