How to Manage Virtual Machine Snapshots in Essentials
Applies To: System Center Essentials 2010
A snapshot saves the state of the virtual machine by recording changes made to it since the last snapshot. In System Center Essentials 2010, if a software installation or update fails, you can roll back to a previous snapshot and restore the virtual machine to a working state.
If you plan to deploy software updates you can take a new snapshot in the event that you need to undo changes made to virtual machines after the update. You can also roll back to the previous state if the software update fails, and remove a snapshot if it is no longer required.
To create a new virtual machine snapshot
In the Essentials console, click the Computers button, click Computer Groups, and then click All Windows Servers.
Select a virtual machine from the list of computers and then click Manage Snapshots in the Tasks pane.
To take a new snapshot, select the virtual machine and click the New button in the Manage Snapshots window.
When the Snapshot dialog box appears, enter a name and description for the snapshot and click Save. After the snapshot has been saved, you will be returned to the Manage Snapshots window.
To restore a virtual machine snapshot
In the Essentials console, click the Computers button, click Computer Groups, and then click All Windows Servers.
Select a virtual machine from the list of computers and then click Manage Snapshots in the Tasks pane.
From the Manage Snapshots window, select the virtual machine snapshot you want to restore and click the Restore button.
When the Confirm Restore dialog box appears, click Yes to continue. After the snapshot has been restored, you will be returned to the list of snapshots and the one you restored will no longer be in the list of available snapshots.
To delete a virtual machine snapshot
In the Essentials console, click the Computers button, click Computer Groups, and then click All Windows Servers.
Select a virtual machine from the list of computers and then click Manage Snapshots in the Tasks pane.
From the Manage Snapshots window, select the virtual machine snapshot you want to remove, and then click Delete.
When the Delete Snapshot dialog box appears, click Yes to continue. After the snapshot has been deleted, you will be returned to the list of snapshots, and the one you deleted will no longer be in the list of available snapshots.