On ubuntu:11111: > db.dropDatabase() { "dropped" : "test" , "ok" : 1 } > db.foo.insert({a:1}) > db.foo.ensureIndex({a:1}) On ubuntu:22222: > db.dropDatabase() { "dropped" : "test" , "ok" : 1 } > db.runCommand({cloneCollection: 'test.foo' , from: 'ubuntu:11111' , copyindexes: false }) { "ok" : 1 } > db.system.indexes.find() { "v" : 1, "key" : { "_id" : 1 }, "ns" : "test.foo" , "name" : "_id_" } { "v" : 1, "key" : { "a" : 1 }, "ns" : "test.foo" , "name" : "a_1" } // Note the a_1 index was copied