Think of VMware virtual machine snapshots as a time machine for your virtual servers. They capture a specific moment in your VM's life, preserving everything about its state at that exact point.

Understanding VMware virtual machine snapshots is crucial for anyone working in a modern IT environment. These powerful tools let you save your VM's current state and roll back changes if something goes wrong. It's like having an 'undo' button for your entire virtual machine.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about VMware snapshots. We'll break down their inner workings, compare them with traditional backups, and share practical tips for using them effectively.

You'll learn when to create snapshots, how to manage them properly, and what limitations to watch out for.

What are VMware Snapshots?

 

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Understanding VMware virtual machine snapshots starts with grasping their fundamental purpose. VMware snapshots are point-in-time captures of a VM's complete state. These snapshots capture everything about your VM's state- the operating system, applications, and even memory if you choose. It's like pressing pause on your favorite movie.

When you take a snapshot, VMware doesn't copy your entire virtual machine. Instead, it creates a clever checkpoint system. Any changes after the snapshot are written to separate delta files.

The original virtual disk becomes read-only, preserving that exact point in time. This saves storage space and makes the process incredibly efficient.

Your VM keeps running normally, but now you have a safety net. Need to test a risky software update? Take a snapshot first. Something went wrong? Just roll back.

VM Backup vs Snapshots

To protect your virtual machines, you need to know how snapshots and backups differ.

Backups create complete, independent copies of your VM data that exist separately from the original machine. These copies include all VM files, configurations, and data, making them ideal for long-term data storage and disaster recovery.

VMware virtual machine snapshots work differently. Snapshots capture the VM's state at a specific moment, creating delta files that track changes from that point forward. They're perfect for short-term protection during software updates or configuration changes.

Backups are your go-to solution for long-term data protection and disaster recovery scenarios. Snapshots, on the other hand, serve immediate operational needs.

For example, an organization might use backups to preserve sales management training VMs for compliance purposes. Then, they might use snapshots for day-to-day training.

When implemented correctly, these two complement each other. Snapshots provide quick recovery for recent changes and backups ensuring data remains safe regardless of host infrastructure issues or snapshot corruption.

Benefits of Using Snapshots

VMware virtual machine snapshots offer numerous advantages in a virtualized environment, including:

• Testing Environment Preservation: Snapshots provide a reliable way to preserve testing environments, allowing teams to experiment with configuration without permanent consequences. This is especially valuable for companies offering front-end development services. It allows them to create different UI for client approval without duplicating entire VMs.

• Quick Recovery From Errors or Failed Updates: Snapshots enable quick recovery, saving valuable time when issues arise.

• Development and Testing Scenarios: They're instrumental in developing and testing workflows by providing safe points to return to during the iterative process. As a result, developers can roll back to stable states.

• Training Environments: In training environments, snapshots reset systems to a clean state before sessions.

• Risk Mitigation During System Changes: They help mitigate risks, giving administrators confidence to proceed with potentially disruptive operations.

When to Use Snapshots

Knowing when and how to use VMware virtual machine snapshots is essential for effective virtual environment management.

One such use case is software installations when you need a safety net to revert to if something goes wrong.

Before system updates or patches, creating a snapshot allows you to quickly roll back if unexpected issues arise.

During the testing phases of web applications, snapshots enable you to verify changes without risk. For instance, when testing new SSL certificates before validation with tools like the Attrock SSL checker.

They provide short-term protection during critical changes to your environment, giving administrators confidence to proceed with potentially disruptive operations.

Finally, snapshots are essential components of a development workflow, allowing developers to experiment freely without fear of breaking systems.

How to Create, Restore, and Delete Snapshots

Creating a snapshot in VMware is straightforward. In the vSphere Client, right-click the desired VM and select "Snapshots" > "Take Snapshot."

 

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Name your snapshot descriptively-for instance, "Pre-update" or "ELA tutoring environment setup"-and include relevant notes about its purpose.

Choose whether to capture the VM's memory and quiesce the guest file system for application consistency.

To restore a snapshot, right-click the VM, select "Snapshots" > "Snapshot Manager," and choose "Revert To."

 

Image via Netwrix

Deleting is equally important-select "Delete" or "Delete All" for complete removal. Remember that "Delete" removes only the selected snapshot while consolidating changes, while "Delete All" removes the entire snapshot tree.

After deletion, VMware consolidates the changes back to the base disk, freeing storage space and improving performance.

Managing Snapshots

Effective snapshot management requires consistent practices and proper tools. Implement clear naming conventions and documentation to track snapshot purposes and expiration dates. Some organizations even delegate this task to a US-based virtual assistant who maintains snapshot inventory across environments.

Knowing the difference between snapshot trees (multiple branches from a single point) versus linear chains helps avoid confusion during restoration processes.

Various tools exist for snapshot management, from VMware's built-in features to third-party solutions that offer enhanced reporting and automation. Access to these tools not only supports snapshot management.

It also helps improve your understanding of VMware virtual machine snapshots and their impact on system performance.

Regularly monitoring snapshot growth and performance impact helps identify potential issues before they affect production systems, ensuring virtualized environments remain responsive and efficient.

Conclusion

Understanding VMware virtual machine snapshots isn't just about technical knowledge-it's about strategically protecting your virtual environments. They're powerful tools when used correctly.

Remember that snapshots shine in short-term scenarios but aren't replacements for proper backups. You can maximize their benefits while avoiding common pitfalls using the right approach.

Take the time to develop a snapshot strategy that aligns with your specific operational needs, and you'll find they become an invaluable part of your virtualization toolkit.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Gaurav Sharma is the founder and CEO of Attrock, a results-driven digital marketing company. Grew an agency from 5-figure to 7-figure revenue in just two years | 10X leads | 2.8X conversions |  300K organic monthly traffic. He also contributes to top publications like HuffPost, Adweek, Business 2 Community, TechCrunch, and more.