Cloning & Snapshots in VMware

VMware provides Cloning and Snapshots as powerful features to manage Virtual Machines (VMs).

• Cloning: Creates an identical copy of a VM for backup or testing.
• Snapshots: Saves the current state of a VM so you can restore it later if needed.

1. Cloning a Virtual Machine

A clone is an exact copy of a VM that can be used independently.

Types of Clones in VMware

Steps to Clone a VM in VMware Workstation

1. Power off the VM you want to clone.
2. Right-click the VM in VMware Workstation.
3. Click “Manage” > “Clone”.
4. Choose “Create a full clone” or “Create a linked clone”.
5. Name the clone and select the location to store it.
6. Click Finish.

🚀 Now you have an exact copy of your original VM!

2. Taking a Snapshot of a Virtual Machine

A snapshot allows you to save a VM’s current state and revert to it later if needed.

When to Use Snapshots?

✅ Before making major software updates.
✅ Before testing new applications.
✅ To prevent data loss in case of errors.

Steps to Take a Snapshot

1. Power on the VM.
2. Click “VM” > “Snapshots” > “Take Snapshot”.
3. Name the snapshot (e.g., “Before Software Update”).
4. Add a description (optional).
5. Click OK.

Restoring a Snapshot

1. Click “VM” > “Snapshots” > “Snapshot Manager”.
2. Select the snapshot you want to restore.
3. Click “Go To” to revert the VM.

Deleting a Snapshot

1. Open Snapshot Manager.
2. Select the snapshot.
3. Click “Delete” to free up disk space.

3. Differences Between Cloning & Snapshots

4. Best Practices

✅ Use full clones for long-term VMs.
✅ Use snapshots sparingly (too many can slow down VM performance).
✅ Delete old snapshots to save disk space.
✅ Always take a snapshot before making major changes.