A method for creating a virtual environment (VE) in a non-global zone (NGZ) from a unified archive (UA). An instruction is received to create a VE within a NGZ of a global zone (GZ) using an image file of the VE located in the UA. The contents of the UA are accessible via a virtual file system (VFS) having an index. A directory of the VFS corresponding to guest data of the UA is identified. The guest data is associated with the NGZ and includes the image file. A copy of the index including only portions of the index corresponding to the guest data is created. A guest VFS is created within the NGZ based on the copy. The guest VFS makes only the contents of the UA corresponding to the guest data accessible. The image file is accessed using the guest VFS and used to create the VE.