cloning a vm without a virtual center

Set up the esxi in unsupported mode: alt + f1, type in "unsupported", enable ssh, if ya can.


cd /vmfs/volumes/datastore_serv1
mkdir new_vm
vmkfstools -i clone_from_vm/clone_from_vm.vmdk new_vm/new_vm.vmdk

Connect to the esxi using the VI client, and create a custom vm with the name new_vm, and then choose "existing virtual disk", pointing to ../new_vm/new_vm.vmdk.

You are all set!

Praise yahweh!