Problems with snapshots

[pcastro]

Hi there,

i have ESXi 3.5 server, with 4 VMs in it. I am using the free script that is available in this forums, to do a full backup of the VMS to another location, everyday.

A few days ago, i found that the backups aren't running, the script tells me that there is already a snapshot. I found that there are some new tem files, with the latest data beeing saved on them, and the actual vm disk not beeing used at several days.

How can i commit the data to the virtual disk, so that i can run the backup again?

Here is a full "ls -alh" on the VM folder:

-rw------- 1 root root 10.8G Apr 27 16:52 wintest-000001-delta.vmdk

-rw------- 1 root root 303 Mar 14 04:10 wintest-000001.vmdk

-rw------- 1 root root 1.0G Mar 13 14:58 wintest-6f47f0d5.vswp

-rw------- 1 root root 29.4k Mar 14 04:10 wintest-Snapshot66.vmsn

-rw------- 1 root root 40.0G Mar 14 04:10 wintest-flat.vmdk

-rw------- 1 root root 8.5k Apr 21 18:09 wintest.nvram

-rw------- 1 root root 502 Mar 13 08:00 wintest.vmdk

-rw------- 1 root root 478 Mar 14 04:10 wintest.vmsd

-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 3.0k Mar 14 04:10 wintest.vmx

-rw------- 1 root root 1.8k Feb 3 17:09 wintest.vmxf

-rw-rr 1 root root 885.8k Feb 3 18:25 vmware-1.log

-rw-rr 1 root root 128.5k Feb 3 18:35 vmware-2.log

-rw-rr 1 root root 1.5M Apr 27 12:52 vmware.log

Any advice?

I already lost all the data on one vm, because i renamed one file, and did the backup again... and he deleted the renamed file.

Thanks for your help!

[lnairn]

Hi,

in the Vi Client, right click the vm, then snapshot manager.

In snapshot manager, you can select "delete all".

Delete all, makes a commit and then, deletes the delta files.

This operation can take long time to complete, and you can have performance issues when this process is running

[pcastro]

Hi there, thanks a lot for your fast reply and help!

Sorry to confirm, but this is very important to me

Is this a safe process? Any chance of data beeing lost?

Attached is the image of what i can get on the client, so i can safely delete the snapshot?

The performance isnt a problem, i can do it on late hours. This is a good server, and the vms aren't very busy.

Thanks once again!

[lnairn]

Hi,

this process is very common, i made this very times, and never lost the data.

Do you have space available in the datastore? This process uses space in the datastore in order to delete the snapshot's. be aware of this!

Just do that and wait, the process can take very hours.

If you are using Vcenter, the process can do "time out" in virtual center, but the process is still working in the ESX....just wait.

[pcastro]

Yes, i have almost 6 x times the VPS size.

One last question, this can be done, with the VM running, right? No need to stop the VM, correct?

Thanks once again for all your help!

best regards

[lnairn · Accepted solution]

Yes, you can delete the snapshot with the VM powered on, but remember that the performance will not be good.

If you can power off the VM, the time probably will be faster.

[pcastro]

Thank you, thank you, and thank you very much.

I already did this on 3 VMs, and its finished.

Didn't notice any slowdown. All finished and running fine.

Once again, thank you very much.

best regards