So, I recently had to clone an ESXi (4.1) USB boot disk, with the simple use of a Linux Live CD and a copious amount of dd’ing’ within 20 minutes I have a complete clone from one USB stick to another, simples.
Steps to complete this:
- Download Linux Live CD (Damn small linux etc)
- Either burn the CD and boot from it, or boot a VM in vmware workstation from it
- Plug the ORIGINAL usb device in and confirm its device address through dmesg (should be /dev/sda)
- Plug the NEW usb device in and confirm its device address through dmesg (should be /dev/sdb)
- Use fdisk to remove all partitions on the NEW usb (don’t forget, that should be /dev/sdb)
- Use dd to block copy from the ORIGINAL to the NEW device (dd if=/dev/sda of=/dev/sdb)
- Use NEW usb device to boot ESX server
And you’re done!
