Snapshots of virtual machines

Differences between snapshots and backups

The main purpose of backups is to save the data of the virtual machine, and the snapshots — the current state of the VM. Creating a backup takes some time, during which the state of a VM can change. The system configuration is "frozen" when the snapshot is created. This allows you to save not only the files, but also the state of the VM.

Restoring from a snapshot is impossible if the OS has been reinstalled on the VM or the VM disk has been cleaned. This is due to the fact that snapshot files do not contain a full copy of the disk, but only changes in its state. In such cases, use backup copies to save VM data.

Creating a snapshot

Enter Virtual machines → select the VM →  ...menu → Create a snapshot.

If necessary, edit the Snapshot name. By default, snapshot names contain the date and time of creation.

Add a discretionary Comment.

Click Save.

If snapshots are created for a VM, an  icon appears next to its name in the VM table .

Managing snapshots

To manage snapshots of all VMs, enter Virtual machines → VM snapshots tabs → select the VM →  ... menu.

Possible actions with snapshots:

Restore VM from a snapshot;

Edit — change the snapshot name and commentary;

Delete.

To manage the snapshots of an individual VM, enter Virtual machines → select the VM → click Parameters → open VM snapshots → Snapshot tree tab.

The tree shows the hierarchical structure of the snapshots and the current state of the VMs. When you select a snapshot in the tree, a brief information about the snapshot is displayed on the right side of the window.

Possible actions with the snapshot tree:

Restore VM from a snapshot;

Edit — change the snapshot name and commentary;

Delete;

Delete all.

The VM will be stopped while creating/restoring to/from a snapshot. Canceling a create/restore operation is not supported.