virt-clone

Virt-clone is a command-line tool used in virtualization environments, specifically with the KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) hypervisor. It is designed to clone existing virtual machines (VMs) and create new instances based on their specifications. Virt-clone utilizes the libvirt library for managing VMs and relies on the underlying virt-manager tool for connection and management. The tool provides various options and functionalities, including specifying the source VM, defining the target clone name, selecting the destination storage, and choosing the clone's connection option. Virt-clone enables the creation of shapshots or full clones of VMs, allowing for easy replication and deployment of virtual environments. It can significantly reduce the time and effort required in setting up new VMs by leveraging pre-existing configurations. Virt-clone supports both offline cloning (when the source VM is not running) and online cloning (while the VM is active). The tool can be used in scripting and automation scenarios, allowing administrators to clone VMs in a repeatable and efficient manner. With virt-clone, it is feasible to create a large number of identical VM instances, facilitating scenarios such as virtualized application testing or establishing multiple replicas for load balancing. Overall, virt-clone simplifies the cloning process within KVM-based virtualization environments, providing flexibility and convenience to system administrators and developers.