What is a Snapshot?
A snapshot is like taking a picture of your virtual machine, capturing its state at a particular moment. This “picture” is read-only, and you can’t directly modify it. If you make changes and want to revert back to the previous state, you can use the snapshot to restore the machine to how it was when the snapshot was taken. This way, you don’t need to create multiple virtual machines.
Issues with Older Versions of VMware Workstation:
Older versions could only create one snapshot, which wasn’t very flexible. Newer versions allow for the creation of multiple snapshots, giving you the freedom to switch between different system states as needed, making it much more convenient.
Use Cases:
For example, if you’re trying out new software or learning something new in a virtual machine and are worried about messing up the settings, you can take a snapshot first. If something goes wrong, you can easily revert to the snapshot.
How to Create a Snapshot？
- Start the virtual machine.
- From the menu, select “VM,” then click on “Take Snapshot…”
- Name the snapshot and add a description, then click “OK.”
What is Cloning?
Difference Between Snapshots and Clones:
- Cloning creates an entirely new copy of the virtual machine, whereas a snapshot is just a saved image of the current state.
- A cloned virtual machine is independent and can run separately from the original.
- VMware supports two types of clones: full clone and linked clone.
- A full clone is a complete copy of all data and does not rely on the original virtual machine.
- A linked clone shares the same disk file with the original, but requires the original to exist to function. It saves space and is quicker to create.
How to Create a Clone？
- Shut down the virtual machine you want to clone.
- Click on the “Clone this virtual machine” button.
- Follow the wizard’s instructions, choosing the clone type, setting the name, etc.
- Complete the cloning process.
Comparison of Snapshots and Clones
| Feature | Snapshot | Clone |
|---|---|---|
| Creation Timing | Anytime | When the VM is powered off |
| Number of Copies | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Disk Space Usage | Depends on the number of snapshots | Linked clone: less, Full clone: more |
| Main Use | Saving temporary states | Distributing or testing environments |
| Independence | Dependent on the original VM | Linked: partially, Full: completely |
| Simultaneous Use | No | Yes |
| Network Compatibility | No | Yes, with different MAC addresses and UUIDs |
Image Management
With the snapshot manager provided by VMware, you can visually see all your snapshots and manage them, including renaming, adding comments, deleting, or creating new clones based on them. This makes managing multiple snapshots easy and straightforward.