How to clone a Linux VM - VMware

I had to create a new Linux virtual machine, and I wanted it to be similar to one of the existing Linux Servers (RHEL 4). A colleague of mine told to try the free software called 'VMware Converter'. It can create a virtual machine out of a physical machine. I downloaded it and gave it a try. But unfortunately it can convert only a windows based machine to VM. If you have a windows machine, it can remotely connect to that machine and create a VM for you, which would be like a clone of the physical machine (heard it takes a long time, perhaps running overnight might be a good idea). But I have to clone a linux machine, so what do I do???

Tried googling and came upon many options.

1) http://www.vmware.com/products/converter/faqs.html
Says that experimental support available for Linux-based physical to virtual machine conversions using the Vmware Converter BootCD (cold cloning) if the source physical machine has SCSI disks.
Also read: http://communities.vmware.com/thread/76266

This blog explains how to do the above:
http://virtualaleph.blogspot.com/2007/04/cloning-linux-machine-with-converter.html
It is a bit complex and you have to do a few configuration steps to get the VM running.

2) Using g4l, Ghost for Linux
http://www.windley.com/archives/2007/08/p2v_how_to_make_a_physical_linux_box_into_a_virtual_machine.shtml

3) P2V instructions for Linux
http://vmwiz.com/


All the above didn't seem quite viable. I tried creating a new VM using ESX Server, but when I powered up the VM it said "Missing operating system". I thought of cloning one of the other linux VMs in the ESX server, but you need 'Virtual Center" for that. Then suddenly the 'idea bulb' lighted and I remembered that VMware converter had an option to select a ESX server
as source. Voila!! so easy and I created a new virtual machine within a few minutes (took me just 10 mins)!!!