Converting a virtual machine to a template, cloning a virtual machine to a template, or cloning another template can create a template.
A template is a preconfigured virtual machine in .vmtx format so that it cannot be powered on. This can either be converted back to a virtual machine (.vmx) or have virtual machines provisioned from it. This template usually includes a hardware configuration, guest operating system, and potentially even applications. Having an image makes creating virtual machines so much faster and makes us less likely to make errors during creation. Another benefit is that a template is a good way to define hardware standards, such as using the VMXNET3 or PVSCSI adapters that should be used with each deployment.
To create a template, first create a virtual machine and configure it, as desired, to be a base image for many more virtual machines. Once this virtual machine is created, there are two options: Clone...