6.0

Prerequisites
n
If you are taking a memory snapshot of a virtual machine that has multiple disks in different disk
modes, verify that the virtual machine is powered off. For example, if you have a special purpose
configuration that requires you to use an independent disk, you must power off the virtual machine
before taking a snapshot.
n
To capture the memory state of the virtual machine, verify that the virtual machine is powered on.
n
To quiesce the virtual machine files, verify that the virtual machine is powered on and that VMware
Tools is installed.
n
Required privilege: Virtual machine.Snapshot management. Create snapshot on the virtual machine.
Procedure
1 In the vSphere Client inventory, right-click the virtual machine and select Snapshot > Take Snapshot.
2 Type a name for the snapshot.
3 Type a description for the snapshot.
Adding a date and time or a description, for example, "Snapshot before applying XYZ patch," can help
you determine which snapshot to restore or delete.
4 (Optional) When the virtual machine is powered on, select the Snapshot the virtual machine’s memory
check box to capture the memory of the virtual machine.
5 (Optional) When the virtual machine is powered on, select the Quiesce guest file system (Needs
VMware Tools installed) check box to pause running processes on the guest operating system so that
file system contents are in a known consistent state when you take the snapshot.
6 Click OK.
After you take the snapshot, you can view its status in the Recent Tasks field at the bottom of the vSphere
Client.
Restoring Snapshots
To return a virtual machine to its original state, or to return to another snapshot in the snapshot hierarchy,
you can restore a snapshot.
When you restore a snapshot, you return the virtual machine's memory, settings, and the state of the virtual
machine disks to the state they were in at the time you took the snapshot. If you want the virtual machine to
be suspended, powered on, or powered off when you start it, make sure that it is in the correct state when
you take the snapshot.
You can restore snapshots in the following ways:
Revert to Latest
Snapshot
Restores the parent snapshot, one level up in the hierarchy from the You are
Here position. Revert to Latest Snapshot activates the parent snapshot of the
current state of the virtual machine.
Revert To
Lets you restore any snapshot in the snapshot tree and makes that snapshot
the parent snapshot of the current state of the virtual machine. Subsequent
snapshots from this point create a new branch of the snapshot tree.
Restoring snapshots has the following effects:
n
The current disk and memory states are discarded, and the virtual machine reverts to the disk and
memory states of the parent snapshot.
n
Existing snapshots are not removed. You can restore those snapshots at any time.
Chapter 16 Managing Virtual Machines
VMware, Inc. 191