A VMware template (also callled a golden image) is a perfect, model copy of a virtual machine (VM) from which an administrator can clone, convert or deploy more virtual machines.
A VMware template includes the virtual machine's virtual disks and settings from its .vmx configuration file, managed with permissions. Templates save time and avoid errors when configuring settings and other choices to create new Windows or Linux server VMs. They can also be used as long-term in-place backups of VMs, and to ensure consistent VMs are created and deployed across a company. A VMware template cannot be operated without reverting it to a virtual machine (VM).
See also: VMware snapshot
Contributor(s): Meredith Courtemanche
This was last updated in February 2013
Posted by: Margaret Rouse
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