In today’s world, virtual machines are crucial for many computer users. They let you use many operating systems on one computer, which is excellent for trying out software or keeping things separate. But, like with any software, it’s wise to have a backup just in case.
This guide will help you make a copy of a virtual machine you made with VMware Fusion 12 Pro on your Apple Mac. Whether you want to back up, copy, or make another version of your VM, we’ll show you how.
Credit: VMware
Efficient VM Management: How to Make Fast Copies with VMware Fusion on macOS
Do you need to make a fast copy of a virtual machine you set up with VMware Fusion on your macOS computer? If so, you can use the Clone feature to make an exact copy of your VM. There are two ways to do this essential job:
- Full Clone
- Linked Clone
A Full Clone in VMware Fusion makes a totally separate copy of your virtual machine. That means the copy gets its unique ID, and it’s not connected to the original VM at all. This is handy if you want a backup or a completely different setup for something else.
Alternatively, it makes a new virtual machine that shares the same virtual disk as the original VM. This means the clone uses the same disk image as the original. Still, it has its setup files, memory, and other settings for virtual hardware. These are handy when you want to make lots of VMs fast without using up a ton of disk space.
Making a clone of your VM can save you a bunch of time and work. You don’t need to install a whole new virtual operating system from the beginning. Just copy your existing system with all your stuff still there. This can be helpful if you need to set up a new place fast or if you want to try out different setups without messing up your original VM.
Creating the Clone a VM in Fusion Software on Mac
If you want to make a copy of a virtual computer on your Mac using Fusion software, you can clone it. You have two choices to help you do this: you can watch a detailed video tutorial that shows you how, or you can follow step-by-step instructions to do it.
- If you want to use VMware Fusion on your Mac, you have to install its software first. If this is your first time doing this, watch a helpful training video that explains the installation step by step.
- To get started, install the Fusion software. After that, you can make a new virtual machine and install the Windows 10 operating system. There’s a video tutorial to help you do this step by step. Just watch the tutorial and do what it says to get your VM set up with Windows 10.
- To make a complete backup of your Windows 10 or 11 guest machine using the Fusion tool menu, start by making sure the guest machine is turned off. Then, go to Virtual Machine and pick Create Full Clone. This makes an exact copy of the guest machine, which can be handy for backup, testing, or other stuff.
- Next, choose where you want the VM to be saved, then click Save and wait for the cloning to finish. This might take a while, depending on how fast your Mac works. With the Full one, space on your computer is set aside equal to the size of the original machine’s disk.
- After you’ve reproduced your Windows virtual computer, it’s essential to give it a good test. This helps make sure the clone works just like it should. By testing it out, you can find any problems or mistakes that might’ve happened during the cloning.
- If you want to delete a cloned VM on your macOS PC, here’s how: First, find the Fusion icon on your Dock and right-click it. Then, pick “Virtual Machine Library.” When the library opens, find the copied machine you want to delete and choose it. Then, click “Delete” at the top of the window. Finally, click “Move to Trash” to finish deleting it.
NOTE: If you make a Linked Clone instead of a Full Clone, your virtual PC takes up less space on your Mac’s disk. The copied machine with the Linked One is connected to the primary virtual PC. Remember, if you’re thinking about deleting a Linked structure, you should also delete the snapshot of the primary VM.
Conclusion
To sum up, making a copy of a virtual machine with VMware Fusion 12 Pro can be beneficial for backing up, copying, or making another version of a virtual PC on your Mac. We talked about two ways to do it: Full Clone and Linked Clone. With the full backup feature, you can make a complete copy of the original VM. The linked feature connects the new VM to the original one.
You can pick either one based on what you need and how well your Mac works. We also gave you a guide to follow step by step to clone a virtual machine on your Mac using VMware Fusion software.
If you want to know how to back up a guest machine on your Mac, read our article about using the snapshot on macOS with VMware Fusion. This guide will help you understand how to use the snapshot feature to make a backup of your VM. It keeps your data and settings safe in case something unexpected happens.