How to clone a Windows Server running on VirtualBox

Cloning a server takes an exact copy of an existing machine. A cloned server is, for most purposes, an exact copy of the source. Cloned servers always retain the SID of the original server. Server cloning is a useful tool, if your need is to setup up a server similar to what you already have, and wish to skip the hassle of configuring a new server from scratch. Cloning requires that you shut down your server. In order to stripe the server of the parent SID, SysPrep needs to be performed. You can find SysPrep in the path below. Sysprep generalizes Windows by removing the security identifiers and other computer-specific information without having the same identity as the previous server. Here is a guide on how to do it “How to Clone and Sysprep (generalize ) a Windows Server running on VMware Workstation“.

c:\windows\system32\sysprep

Below are the following ways to clone a Windows Server running on VirtualBox via the graphical user interface.
– Note: You can achieve this as well via the keyboard key. Right-click on the server and
– Select Clone.

Enter the Server Name as shown below. All other parameters are ok by me.

Decide and select the type of clone you will like to perform as shown below. What a “Full Clone” and “Linked Clone” is explained here as well.

Next, the cloning process will continue as shown below. This process takes time to complete.

You may need to perform a SysPrep to rip of the SID of the image. For more on SysPrep, see the following guide how to perform Sysprep in Windows.

I hope you found this blog post on How to clone a Windows Server running on VirtualBox helpful. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comment session.