8.9. Backing Up and Restoring Virtual Machines with Snapshots

8.9.1. Creating a Snapshot of a Virtual Machine
8.9.2. Using a Snapshot to Restore a Virtual Machine
8.9.3. Creating a Virtual Machine from a Snapshot
8.9.4. Deleting a Snapshot

8.9.1. Creating a Snapshot of a Virtual Machine

Summary
A snapshot is a view of a virtual machine's operating system and applications at a given point in time. Take a snapshot of a virtual machine before you make a change to it that may have unintended consequences. You can use a snapshot to return a virtual machine to a previous state.

Procedure 8.19. Creating a snapshot of a virtual machine

  1. Use the Virtual Machines resource tab, tree mode, or the search function to find and select a virtual machine in the results list.
  2. Select the Snapshots tab in the details pane.
  3. Click Create in the left side-pane of the details pane to open the Create Snapshot window.
    The Virtual Machines Details Pane with Snapshots tab

    Figure 8.10. The Virtual Machines Details Pane with Snapshots tab


  4. Enter a description for the snapshot.
  5. Click OK to create the snapshot and close the window.
    New Snapshot in the Details Pane

    Figure 8.11. New Snapshot in the Details Pane


Result
The virtual machine's operating system and applications are stored in a snapshot that can be previewed or restored. The snapshot is created with a status of Locked, which changes to Ok. When you click on the snapshot, its details are shown on the General, Disks, Network Interfaces, and Installed Applications tabs in the right side-pane of the details pane.