VMware image clone via ESX shell and vmkfstools The free version of the VMware vSphere Hypervisor has a reduced feature set. One of the missing features is the ability to clone or create templates from existing vms. You can clone an image using vmkfstools within the ESX shell. vmkfstools OPTIONS FOR FILE SYSTEMS: vmkfstools -C --createfs [vmfs3|vmfs5] -b --blocksize #[mMkK] -S --setfsname fsName -Z --spanfs span-partition -G --growfs grown-partition deviceName -P --queryfs -h --humanreadable -T --upgradevmfs vmfsPath -y --reclaimBlocks vmfsPath [--reclaimBlocksUnit #blocks] OPTIONS FOR VIRTUAL DISKS: vmkfstools -c --createvirtualdisk #[gGmMkK] -d --diskformat [zeroedthick |thin |eagerzeroedthick ] -a --adaptertype [buslogic|lsilogic|ide |lsisas|pvscsi] -W --objecttype [file|vsan] --policyFile <fileName> -w --writezeros -j --inflatedisk -k --eagerzero -K --punchzero -U --deletevirtualdisk -E --renamevirtualdisk srcDisk -i --clonevirtualdisk srcDisk -d --diskformat [zeroedthick |thin |eagerzeroedthick |rdm:<device>|rdmp:<device> |2gbsparse] -W --object [file|vsan] --policyFile <fileName> -N --avoidnativeclone -X --extendvirtualdisk #[gGmMkK] [-d --diskformat eagerzeroedthick] -M --migratevirtualdisk -r --createrdm /vmfs/devices/disks/.