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Taking a Snapshot
Use the Snapshot menu on the Workstation toolbar to take a snapshot.
1. Select Snapshot > Take Snapshot...
2. Type a name for your snapshot.
All snapshots must have a unique name. If you type an existing name for a snapshot, a warning appears and you must enter a different name.
3. (Optional) Type a description for your snapshot.
Descriptions are useful to identify differences between similarly-named snapshots. Descriptions appear in the Snapshot Manager.
4. Click OK.
Snapshot Actions as Background Activity
Taking a snapshot is not instantaneous. When you take a snapshot, VMware Workstation allows you to continue working by preserving the snapshot invisibly in the background.
However, the progress dialog becomes visible if you perform more snapshot activitysuch as taking another snapshot or reverting to onebefore Workstation completes the pending snapshot activity. When this occurs, you must wait for the previous activity to complete before your subsequent snapshot activity begins.
Note: If you select a snapshot in the Snapshot Manager before that snapshot is complete, Workstation displays an error message: "The screen shot of the snapshot does not yet exist." This message does not indicate a permanent problem. When the progress completes, a screen shot for the snapshot becomes visible in the Snapshot Manager, and no warning appears when you select that snapshot.
When Can I Take a Snapshot?
You can take a snapshot while a virtual machine is powered on, powered off or suspended. If you are suspending a virtual machine, wait until the suspend operation has finished before taking a snapshot.
There are exceptions for legacy Workstation virtual hardware and for multiple disks in different modes.
Snapshots and Legacy Virtual Hardware
A virtual machine must be upgraded to Workstation 5 before taking a snapshot. For information on upgrading the virtual hardware, see
Upgrading VMware Workstation.
Workstation 5 and Legacy VMs
Snapshots and Multiple Disks in Different Modes
You must power off the virtual machine before taking a snapshot if the virtual machine has multiple disks in different disk modes. For example, if you have a special purpose configuration that requires you to use an independent disk, you must power off the virtual machine before taking a snapshot.
Changing Disk Mode to Exclude Virtual Disks from Snapshots
Note: You must power off and delete any existing snapshots before you attempt to change the disk mode.
To exclude a disk from a snapshot.
1. Choose VM > Settings.
2. Select the drive you want to exclude.
3. Click Advanced.
4. Select Independent on the advanced settings screen. You have the following options for an independent disk:
Persistentchanges are immediately and permanently written to the disk. All changes to an independent disk in persistent mode remain, even when you revert to that snapshot.
Nonpersistentchanges to the disk are discarded when you power off or revert to that snapshot.