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Create Checkpoint

Applies To: System Center 2012 - Orchestrator, System Center 2012 R2 Orchestrator, System Center 2012 SP1 - Orchestrator

The Create Checkpoint is used to save the state of a virtual hard disk that is attached to a virtual machine and all of the disk's contents, including application data files. For virtual machines on Hyper-V and VMware ESX Server hosts, a checkpoint also saves the hardware configuration information.

You can create a checkpoint as a temporary backup before you update the operating system or an application, or before you make a configuration change on a virtual machine. The checkpoint allows you to restore the virtual machine to its previous state if the operation fails or adversely affects the virtual machine. You can create checkpoints only for a virtual machine that is deployed on a virtual machine host. You cannot create checkpoints for a virtual machine that is stored in the library. For a virtual machine that is running on a Hyper-V or VMware host, you can create a checkpoint without stopping the virtual machine. For a virtual machine that is running on a Virtual Server host, you must shut down the virtual machine before you create a checkpoint.

You can create multiple checkpoints for a single virtual machine. Be aware that checkpoints use hard disk space, and, when allowed to proliferate, can affect the performance of a virtual machine when it is running, during migration, and when storing it to the library. Therefore, it is a best practice to remove unnecessary checkpoints.

The activity publishes all of the data from the required and optional properties into published data. The following tables list the required and optional properties and published data for this activity.

Create Checkpoint Required Properties

Element

Description

Valid Values

VM ID

The unique identifier (GUID) of the virtual machine for which the checkpoint is being created

 

Create Checkpoint Optional Properties

Element

Description

Valid Values

Checkpoint Name

The name of the checkpoint

 

Description

An alphanumeric description of your choice for the checkpoint

 

Create Checkpoint Published Data

Element

Description

Valid Values

Accessibility

Public or Internal

 

Added Time

The date and time that the checkpoint was added, in the format yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss AM or PM

 

Checkpoint ID

The unique identifier (GUID) of the checkpoint

 

Checkpoint Name

The name of the checkpoint

 

ID

The unique identifier (GUID) of the checkpoint inside the platform; for example, Hyper-V, VMWare, or Virtual Server

 

Description

An alphanumeric description of the checkpoint

 

Enabled

True or False. If False, the virtual machine cannot be started.

 

Modified Time

The most recent modification date and time for the checkpoint, in the format yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss AM or PM

 

Most Recent Task

The last recorded task for the checkpoint, for example, Start virtual machine

 

Parent Checkpoint ID

The unique identifier (GUID) of the parent of the checkpoint

 

Virtual Disk Drives

The list of virtual disk drive names recorded for the checkpoint

 

VM ID

The unique identifier (GUID) of the virtual machine for which the checkpoint was created

 

VM Name

The name of the virtual machine for which the checkpoint was created

 

See Also

Concepts

System Center Virtual Machine Manager Activities
System Center Integration Pack for System Center 2012 Virtual Machine Manager