A method and system provide tracking of a virtual machine by compiling information on the virtual machines in a network and sending the information to an administrative console. The administrative console can then determine the status of the virtual machines in the network. The administrative console can also establish a lineage of a virtual machine and the migration of a virtual machine from one host machine to another host machine. A virtual machine unique identifier assigned to each virtual machine by the system can be modified and used to track each virtual machine and associated host machine. A status can then be determined of the virtual machines, where the status can be a new virtual machine, a previously discovered virtual machine, a duplicated virtual machine, or a cloned virtual machine.