Cloning a VM

Cloning a database VM creates an identical copy of the database VM in the datastore that you specify. Data Management for VMware Tanzu creates the cloned database VM with the same disk and compute resource configuration and database template as the original. Any service data residing in the original database VM is also cloned. You can choose whether to include the cloned database VM in different backup and maintenance policies and set independent rules for the clone. The cloned database VM is owned by user who clones the original database VM. The owner can perform operations like replications, backups, and restore on the cloned database VM. The owner also recieves email notifications for status change of the cloned database VM and failure of operations on the cloned database VM.

If the Namespace used to create the database VM is associated with both the Provider Administrator and the owner of the database VM, the Provider Administrator can clone the database VM. An Organization Administrator can clone database VMs that are part of the organization. An Organization User can clone database VMs created by the <%=vars.org_user %.

Note: Data Management for VMware Tanzu does not propagate a TLS requirement from the original database VM to the cloned database VM. If you require client TLS, you must explicitly enable this for the cloned database VM as described in Requiring Client TLS.

Prerequisites

• Data Management for VMware Tanzu supports cloning a running or powered off Standalone or Primary database. Ensure that the database is not a Replica database.
• The version of the ESXi host of the Primary database should not be later than the version of the ESXi host of the cloned database VM.

Procedure

Perform the following procedure to clone a database VM:

1. Select Databases from the left navigation pane.

   This action displays the Databases view, a table that lists the provisioned database VMs.

2. Examine the database VMs listed in the table, identify the database VM that you wish to clone, and navigate to that table row.

3. Click in the Actions column, and select Clone from the pop-up menu.

   The Clone Database form displays.

4. Set the following properties for the new database VM:

   Property Name	Value
   VM Name	The name of the original database VM to clone. (Read-only)
   Namespace	The Namespace used to create the cloned database VM. (Read-only)
   Clone VM Name	The name to assign to the clone.
   Enable Automated Backups	Select Enable Automated Backups to automatically initiate a daily backup of the cloned database VM and save it to local and cloud/remote storage.
   Daily Backup Time	When Enable Automated Backups is checked, the time of day to back up the cloned database VM.
   Local Backup Days	When Enable Automated Backups is checked, the number of days to retain a backup on local storage.
   Remote Backup Days	When Enable Automated Backups is checked, the number of days to retain a backup on cloud/remote storage.
   Enable Minor Version Upgrade	Click the checkbox to enable automated minor version database software updates to the cloned database VM.
   Maintenance Day	When Enable Maintenance Window is checked, the maintenance window day of the week.
   Maintenance Time	When Enable Maintenance Window is checked, the time of day in which to start the maintenance window.
   Maintenance Duration	When Enable Maintenance Window is checked, the duration of the maintenance window (hours).

   When Enable Maintenance Window is off and Enable Minor Version Upgrade is on, software updates are applied in the default maintenance window (6 hours starting each Saturday at 23:59).

5. Click CLONE.

   Data Management for VMware Tanzu initiates a management operation of type CLONE_DB, and adds an entry for the new cloned VM in the Databases view table.

   Note: Cloning a VM and bringing the service back online can take some time.

6. Monitor the progress of the operation in the Operations tab or in the Operations view:

   1. Locate the CLONE_DB operation type. The Status progress bar displays the subtasks that Data Management for VMware Tanzu performs for the operation.
   2. Click the CLONE_DB operation type.
   3. Select the State History tab to view the subtasks of the operation and their status.
   4. If the operation fails, select the Error Info tab to examine the returned error information.

7. When the operation completes, the new cloned VM displays the ONLINE or ERROR status.

   Note: Data Management for VMware Tanzu does not automatically clean up after a failure. If the operation fails, you are responsible for deleting the cloned VM.