Will this VM VHD Copy / Clone procedure work?

• Thursday, July 05, 2012 2:55 PM

   

   
  

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  Environment: All servers are 2008 R2, 64 Bit
  VSHOST2-Enterprise
  VSHOST3-Standard

  On VSHOST2, RDS1 is a working VM. It functions as a Remote Desktop (Terminal) Server. RDS1 is a production server, in use (but I can shut it down off-hours if needed). I do not want to sysprep it!

  Plan: "Clone" RDS1 to become RDS2, which will run on VSHOST3. I know Hyper-v does not have a cloning function, so after doing a bunch of reading, I have a process I want other geeky eyes to look at.

  VHD "Cloning" Procedure- is this going to work?

  1. On VSHOST2: Shut down RDS1 (to avoid domain conflicts).
  2. Copy RDS1 VHD file
  3. Rename copy to RDS2
  4. On VSHOST3: In Hyper-v, create new VM
  5. Attach copied now-named RDS2 VHD to VM
  6. Start RDS2
  7. Run sysprep on RDS2 giving new computer name of RDS2 and new IP
  8. On VSHOST2 Restart RDS1

  
  In the past, I have run into "General access denied" errors when attaching and importing and have had to run icacls commands - I am prepared for that.

  I cannot afford to purchase the Hyper-V management software, so please do not suggest that.

  Thanks everyone -

  Cathy

  
  
  

  • Edited by Cathy Burnham Thursday, July 05, 2012 2:56 PM
  • Edited by Cathy Burnham Thursday, July 05, 2012 2:56 PM
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