6.0.1

To prevent snapshot files from merging with the parent snapshot, for example in cases of failed updates or
installations, first use the Go to command to restore to a previous snapshot. This action invalidates the
snapshot delta disks and deletes the memory file. You can then use the Delete option to remove the
snapshot and any associated files.
Delete a Snapshot in the vSphere Web Client
You can use the Snapshot Manager to delete a single snapshot or all snapshots in a snapshot tree.
Use care when you delete snapshots. You cannot restore a deleted snapshot. For example, you might want
to install several browsers, a, b, and c, and capture the virtual machine state after you install each browser.
The first, or base snapshot, captures the virtual machine with browser a and the second snapshot captures
browser b. If you restore the base snapshot that includes browser a and take a third snapshot to capture
browser c and delete the snapshot that contains browser b, you cannot return to the virtual machine state
that includes browser b.
Prerequisites
n
Ensure that you are familiar with the Delete and Delete all actions and how they might affect virtual
machine performance. See “Deleting Snapshots,” on page 200.
n
Required Privilege: Virtual machine.Snapshot management.Remove Snapshot on the virtual machine.
Procedure
1 Right-click the virtual machine and select Manage Snapshots.
a To locate a virtual machine, select a datacenter, folder, cluster, resource pool, host, or vApp.
b Click the Related Objects tab and click Virtual Machines.
2 In the Snapshot Manager, click a snapshot to select it.
3 Select whether to delete a single snapshot or all snapshots.
Option Description
Delete
Consolidates the snapshot data to the parent snapshot and removes the
selected snapshot from the Snapshot Manager and virtual machine.
Delete All
Consolidates all of the immediate snapshots before the You are here
current state to the base parent disk and removes all existing snapshots
from the Snapshot Manager and virtual machine.
4 Click Yes in the confirmation dialog box.
5 Click Close to exit the Snapshot Manager.
Consolidate Snapshots
The presence of redundant delta disks can adversely affect virtual machine performance. You can combine
such disks without violating a data dependency. After consolidation, redundant disks are removed, which
improves virtual machine performance and saves storage space.
Snapshot consolidation is useful when snapshot disks fail to compress after a Delete or Delete all operation.
This might happen, for example, if you delete a snapshot but its associated disk does not commit back to the
base disk.
The Needs Consolidation column in the vSphere Web Client shows the virtual machines to consolidate.
Prerequisites
Required privilege: Virtual machine.Snapshot management.Remove Snapshot
Chapter 10 Managing Virtual Machines
VMware, Inc. 201