When should you use VMWare Snapshots?
Key Takeaways for VMware Snapshot Usage
| Topic | Key Insight |
|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Snapshots are for short-term recovery or testing—not backups. |
| Retention Time | Avoid keeping snapshots longer than 72 hours to prevent performance issues. |
| Storage Impact | Snapshots grow over time and can consume significant disk space. |
| Performance Considerations | Running VMs with active snapshots may degrade performance, especially under load. |
| Consolidation | Always consolidate snapshots after deletion to reclaim space and maintain health. |
| Quiescing | Use quiesce for consistent snapshots of running applications (e.g., SQL, Exchange). |
| Automation | Use tools like SnapShot Master for scheduled snapshots and cleanup automation. |
| Monitoring | Regularly audit snapshots to avoid forgotten or orphaned deltas. |
| Risk of Reversion | Reverting discards all changes made after the snapshot—use with caution. |
| Backups | Always use proper backup solutions for long-term recovery. |
VMWare Snapshots Overview
VMware snapshots are a feature of the VMware vSphere platform that allows administrators to create a point-in-time copy of a virtual machine’s disk for backup, testing, or other purposes. When a snapshot is taken, the current state of the virtual machine’s disk is saved and all future writes are directed to a new delta file. This allows the virtual machine to continue running while the snapshot is taken and it can be used to revert the virtual machine’s disk to the state it was in when the snapshot was taken.
What are VMWare Snapshots and when should you use them?
A snapshot in VMware ESX is a point-in-time copy of the virtual machine’s disk that can be used for backup, testing, or other purposes. When a snapshot is taken, the current state of the virtual machine’s disk is saved and all future writes are directed to a new delta file.
This allows the virtual machine to continue running while the snapshot is taken, and it can be used to revert the virtual machine’s disk to the state it was in when the snapshot was taken.
Snapshots can be used in several ways:
- To revert a virtual machine to a previous state, for example, after a software update, installation or configuration change goes wrong.
- To create a point-in-time backup of a virtual machine, which can be used for disaster recovery.
- To create a test or development environment that is identical to the production environment.
It’s important to note that, taking too many snapshots or keeping them for a long period of time can cause disk space issues and also can impact the performance of the virtual machine. It’s recommended to use snapshots for short-term usage and regularly consolidate and delete them.
What does Quiesce a Virtual Machine mean?
“Quiesce” is a term that refers to the process of temporarily halting activity on a virtual machine so that a consistent point-in-time copy of its disk can be made. When a virtual machine is quiesced, all file system operations are frozen and all writes to the virtual machine’s disk are flushed to ensure that the data on the disk is in a consistent state. This allows for a consistent backup to be taken and for the virtual machine to be restored to that state.
When you take a snapshot of a virtual machine, the option to quiesce the file system is available. This option ensures that the file system is in a consistent state, by flushing all file system buffers and locking the file system, so that all data is captured correctly. This is especially useful for applications that maintain their own file systems, such as databases, where quiescing the file system guarantees that the data that is captured in the snapshot is in a consistent state.
It’s worth noting that, Quiescing a VM may cause a temporary disruption of the services running on the virtual machine, so it should be done during a maintenance window or during a period of low usage.
Why should you consolidate snapshots?
Consolidating snapshots is important because it helps to prevent disk space issues and maintain good performance of the virtual machine.
When a snapshot is taken, the current state of the virtual machine’s disk is saved, and all future writes are directed to a new delta file. As more snapshots are taken, the number of delta files increases, which can lead to disk space issues. These delta files can also cause performance issues as the virtual machine has to process more data to access the virtual disk.
Consolidating snapshots merges all the delta files into the base virtual disk file, reducing the number of files that need to be processed by the virtual machine and freeing up disk space. It also eliminates the possibility of running out of disk space and reduces the time required to back up and restore virtual machines.
Another important aspect is that, when a virtual machine is powered off, snapshots cannot be consolidated unless they are consolidated while the virtual machine is powered on. To avoid this, it’s important to regularly consolidate snapshots when the virtual machine is powered on.
In summary, consolidating snapshots helps to ensure that the virtual machine continues to perform well, and it also helps to free up disk space.
When should I use Vmware snapshots?
VMware snapshots should be used when you need to create a point-in-time copy of a virtual machine’s disk for backup, testing, or other purposes. Some common use cases for VMware snapshots include:
- Reverting a virtual machine to a previous state: If a software installation or configuration change goes wrong, you can use a snapshot to revert the virtual machine to the state it was in before the change was made.
- Creating a point-in-time backup: Snapshots can be used to create a point-in-time backup of a virtual machine, which can be used for disaster recovery.
- Testing and development: Snapshots can be used to create a test or development environment that is identical to the production environment.
- Upgrades and Patching: Snapshots can be useful when you need to upgrade or patch a virtual machine’s operating system or application, allowing you to quickly roll back in case of any issues.
- Quiesce a VM before taking backup: Taking a snapshot of a virtual machine before taking a backup can ensure that the backup is consistent and that all data is captured correctly.
It’s important to keep in mind that snapshots are not a replacement for traditional backups, as they may not capture all of the data that is present on the virtual machine.
Additionally, taking too many snapshots or keeping them for a long period of time can cause disk space issues and can impact the performance of the virtual machine. Therefore, it’s important to use snapshots judiciously and to consolidate and delete them regularly.
Now that you understand a bit more about VMWare snapshots, if you need to save yourself the manual task of creating and deleting the Snapshots yourself, give SnapShot Master a try. Not only will SnapShot Master do all this for you, it has heaps of other features that make maintaining your VMWare Snapshots a breeze.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are VMware snapshots the same as backups?
No. Snapshots are not full backups. They are temporary, point-in-time states of a VM used for short-term rollback or testing. For disaster recovery, always rely on full backups created by backup solutions.
2. How long should I keep a snapshot?
Ideally, no longer than 72 hours. The longer a snapshot is retained, the more it grows, which can degrade performance and consume large amounts of storage.
3. Can I take a snapshot of a powered-off VM?
Yes, but keep in mind that powered-off VMs cannot consolidate snapshots. You’ll need to power them on before consolidation can occur.
4. What happens if I forget to consolidate snapshots?
Over time, delta files grow and can severely impact VM performance and even lead to disk space exhaustion. Always monitor and consolidate regularly.
5. What is snapshot consolidation and why is it needed?
Consolidation merges snapshot delta files back into the base disk, preventing performance degradation and reclaiming storage space. It’s essential after deleting snapshots.
6. What is the performance impact of running a VM with snapshots?
The more snapshots you have—and the longer they exist—the more I/O operations the VM must process, which can slow down performance, especially under heavy workloads.
7. Can I automate snapshot management?
Yes. Tools like SnapShot Master can schedule snapshot creation, monitor usage, and automatically delete or consolidate snapshots to maintain system health.
8. Should I quiesce the VM every time I take a snapshot?
Quiescing is recommended for consistent backups, especially for applications like databases. However, it may cause a brief service disruption, so use it strategically.
9. Are there risks in reverting to a snapshot?
Yes. Reverting to a snapshot discards all changes made since the snapshot was taken. Use with caution, and always confirm the snapshot’s state before applying it.
10. How can I monitor snapshot usage across my environment?
vCenter provides basic visibility, but for advanced reporting and automation, tools like SnapShot Master give deeper insight into snapshot age, size, and health.