Manage the Lifecycle of VMware ESX Virtual Machines › Manage Your Reserved Machines › Create, Restore, or Delete a Virtual Machine Snapshot

Create, Restore, or Delete a Virtual Machine Snapshot

Snapshots are ideal for rapid, time-saving back-ups and restorations. You typically use snapshots to:

• Duplicate an original configuration.
• Capture a complex configuration.
• Capture a configuration before your reservation date expires.
• Back up data.

You can create, delete, and restore snapshots from the self-service portal. When working with snapshots, note the following important information:

• The new snapshots are subject to approval by a Service Provider or Administrator.
• You can only work with snapshots you created or to which you have access.
• Create a snapshot to capture a complex setup or to save data.
• Snapshots are valid for the lifecycle of the machine you create them for. You cannot create a snapshot of one machine and then deploy it to another machine.
• The administrator can configure the maximum number of snapshots a Service Consumer can create for a virtual machine. When the limit is reached, creation of snapshot is handled based on the option the administrator configures.
• Before you restore a snapshot, verify that the restored snapshot is accurate.
• If a snapshot becomes obsolete, delete the snapshot to avoid restoring an incorrect configuration.
• You cannot cancel a snapshot request that is approved and in the Pending Fulfillment status. Wait until the snapshot is created and then delete the snapshot.

Follow these steps:

1. Access VMware ESX Management.
2. Click Snapshots.
3. Click one of the following options:
   • Create Snapshot
   • Restore Snapshot
   • Delete Snapshot

   A form opens.

   Note: While creating a snapshot, if the existing snapshots reach the maximum limit the CA Service Catalog prompts the same or deletes the oldest snapshot.

4. Complete the required form fields.

   The Additional form fields populate.

5. Modify the optional form fields as required.
6. Click Add to Cart to continue adding more requests to the cart.

   The request is added to the cart.

7. Click Check Out when you complete adding the requests.
8. Review your request details, and click Save and Submit Cart.

   A confirmation message displays. Your request is processed. For new snapshots, you receive an email indicating whether your request was approved or rejected with important information about working with your snapshot.

Now you know how to reserve and manage VMware ESX virtual machines. You can reserve machines, alter hardware configurations, extend, or return the machines that you reserved, create and manage snapshots, manage power functions, and restore a retained reservation.