Does cloned VM regenerate Windows SID?

I would like to make sure that the cloned VM will regenerate a new Windows SID to avoid any conflict in domain registration.

Does it work automatically after finishing the cloning? or shall I do it manually? and how?

Hi
Windows SID needs to be changed after copying a virtual machine directory (1000528) | VMware KB

Yes, cloning a Sangfor VM should automatically regenerate a new Windows Security Identifier (SID) to prevent domain registration conflicts. This is a standard practice for most VM cloning procedures, including Sangfor HCI.

Verifying Automatic SID Regeneration:

While automatic regeneration is the norm, it's always good practice to verify on the cloned VM. Here's how you can check:

    Log in to the cloned Windows VM.
    Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
    Type cmd and press Enter to open a command prompt window.
    In the command prompt, type wmic system get sid and press Enter.

This command will display the current SID of the Windows system. You can compare this SID with the original VM to confirm it's different.

When cloning a virtual machine (VM) with Windows, it is essential to ensure that the cloned VM receives a new Security Identifier (SID) to avoid conflicts in a domain environment.

VMware:
a. After cloning the VM, power off the original VM and the cloned VM.
b. Edit the settings of the cloned VM and change the UUID (Unique Universal Identifier) by modifying the generated machine ID. You can find this setting in the VM's summary or options, depending on the VMware version.
c. Power on the cloned VM and perform a Windows installation or a system repair. This will generate a new SID during the process.

Hyper-V:
a. Power off the original VM and the cloned VM.
b. In the cloned VM's settings, change the Generation 1 VM to Generation 2. This will change the UUID and trigger a new SID generation.
c. Power on the cloned VM and perform a Windows installation or a system repair. This will generate a new SID during the process.

Cloning a VM typically involves creating an identical copy of the original VM, including its SID (Security Identifier) unless specific steps are taken to sysprep the VM. To ensure a new SID is generated automatically, you should use the Sysprep tool provided by Windows. After cloning, run Sysprep on the cloned VM, selecting the generalize option, which will strip the SID and prepare the system for deployment. This process will automatically generate a new SID upon the next boot, avoiding conflicts in domain registration.

Hi,

You can use the Sysinternals PsGetSid tool to view a machine’s SID by running it with no command-line arguments.
If the SID is the same you will need to regenerate a new one.

Hi, on my honest opinion, i regenerate every time Windows sid on a cloned VM. This to safely use the cloned vm as sysprep removes computer-specific information such as installed drivers and the computer security identifier (SID). This allows you to safely reuse your clone.

in most cases, Windows will regenerate a new SID automatically when you clone a VM. But sometimes it's not. In any case you experience this you need to do use SysPrep

Yes, when you clone a VM, Windows typically generates a new SID automatically to prevent conflicts. It's handled during the cloning process, so there's usually no need for manual intervention.