A virtual machine in VMware is a set of files stored on a supported storage device. To create a new virtual machine, you can use the Create New Virtual Machine wizard. VMware Tools enhances the performance of a virtual machine. Its installation is optional; however, certain tasks and features are not available without it being installed. Virtual machine cloning can be done while a VM is running or while it's off— two options referred to as hot and cold cloning.

The main reason for using templates is efficiency. While creating a template, you go through common tasks only once when you need to deploy multiple VMs that are the same. So, for all future VMs, you don't need to go through the same tasks every time you need a new virtual server. Another reason for using templates is that they allow the elimination of human errors.

The OVF template is very convenient if you need to move a virtual machine to a different location or a remote environment. Because OVF compresses VM files, the final...