How to snapshot multiple VMs

How to snapshot multiple VMs

by | Aug 9, 2016 | How To, Microsoft HyperV, Snapshot / Checkpoint, VMWare

How to snapshot multiple VM servers with SnapShot Master​

SnapShot Master is a software that helps to create or delete snapshots of multiple VMs in unison. It is a useful tool for VMware’s Vsphere and Microsoft’s HyperV users. With this software, taking snapshots of multiple VMs is a relatively easy task. In this article, we will guide you through the process of snapshotting multiple VM servers using SnapShot Master.

Installing SnapShot Master Before you can use SnapShot Master, you need to install it in your environment. If you haven’t done so, you can download the software and request a 30-day trial key. Once you have installed and are running SnapShot Master in your environment, you can proceed to snapshot multiple VMs.

Synchronous or Asynchronous Snapshotting SnapShot Master can perform snapshotting synchronously or asynchronously. This means that it can keep systems that need to be in sync, have snapshots taken at the same time, or one after the other. To learn more about the functions of SnapShot Master, click this link.

Syncing with Your Virtual Environment Open your SnapShot Master console and let it synchronize with your VMware or HyperV environment. Depending on your virtual environment, this may take some time.

The need arises at times for the creation or deletion of snapshots of multiple VMs in unison. Creating snapshots of multiple VMs (virtual servers) for VMware’s Vsphere or even for Microsoft’s HyperV with SnapShot Master is a relatively easy task. Hopefully you have installed and are running SnapShot Master in your environment, if not, you can download and request a 30 Day trial key and try it out for yourself.


snapshot master SnapShot Master can do this synchronously or asynchronously. This can keep systems that need to be in sync, have snapshots taken at the same time, or one after the other. To learn more about the functions of SnapShot Master, click this link.

VM Console Screen

Open you SnapShot Master console and let it synchronise with your Vmware or HyperV environment. Depending on your virtual environment, this may take some time.

SnapShot Master Home Screen

Virtual Machines Populated.

Now that the console has populated, Tick the checkboxes of the corresponding virtual machines that you wish a snapshot to be performed for.


Select Mutliple VMs

Virtual Machine Selection

Once you have selected the multiple VMs for a snapshot, right click on any VM and scroll down the drop down menu to Selected VMs then across to Take Snapshot.


Schedule VM Snapshot Selection

VM Snapshot Name

Once you have selected the multiple VMs for a snapshot, right click on any VM and scroll down the drop down menu to Selected VMs then across to Take Snapshot.


Schedule HyperV Checkpoint Name

Execute or Schedule VM Snapshot Job

You are now prompted to either Execute Now or Schedule Job. If you choose to execute now, the job will start to immediately snapshot multiple VMs. To schedule the snapshot for a later time, choose Schedule Job.


Schedule VMware Snapshot Execution

Schedule Snapshot Time

We now need to create a schedule for when you wish the snapshots to be performed. Click on New in the scheduling window and set the Date and Time then close the Windows.


Schedule Vmware snapshot ScheduleTask

Scheduled Snapshot Notifications

So thats all there is to it. You have chosen the virtual machines that require a snapshot, set your snapshot schedule and SnapShot Master will complete all this. If you have setup email notifications, you will receive emails detailing success and any failures.


SnapShot Master Email Notification

Taking a snaphot multiple VMs has never been easier than with SnapShot Master. To learn what else SnapShot Master can do, other than snapshot multiple VMs, click this link.

Download a trial of SnapShot Master today.

To trial SnapShot Master, fill in the form below to get access to download the trial software.



 

FREE DOWNLOAD

Send download link to:

I confirm that I have read and agree to the End User License Agreement.

SnapShot Master FAQs

Disaster Recovery

SnapShot Master can be used to create snapshots of multiple VMs at once, ensuring that all the VMs are captured at the same point in time. This makes it easy to restore the VMs in case of a disaster.

Testing and Development

SnapShot Master can be used to create a snapshot of a VM before making any changes. This allows developers and testers to revert back to the original state if anything goes wrong during testing.

Reporting and Auditing

SnapShot Master can be used to create snapshots of VMs on a regular basis for reporting and auditing purposes. This ensures that you always have a historical record of the VMs.

Performance Tuning

SnapShot Master can be used to create snapshots before making any performance tuning changes. This allows you to compare the performance of the VM before and after the changes.

Patch Management

SnapShot Master can be used to create snapshots before applying patches to the VMs. This ensures that you have a backup of the VM before applying any changes.

Overall, SnapShot Master is a versatile tool that can be used for a variety of use cases, providing a simple and efficient way to create and manage snapshots of multiple VMs.

Schedule a Hyper-V Checkpoint

Schedule a Hyper-V Checkpoint

by | Jul 31, 2016 | How To, Microsoft HyperV, Snapshot / Checkpoint

How to Schedule a Hyper-V Checkpoint.

Before I show you how to use SnapShot Master to create and schedule a Hyper-V checkpoint I will briefly describe what a checkpoint is.

HyperV checkpoint

What is a Hyper-V Checkpoint?

Hyper-V Checkpoints can be a lifesaver for IT administrators and developers alike. In this article, we’ll explore what a Hyper-V Checkpoint is and how to use it to roll back to a previous state in case of any issues.

Understanding Hyper-V Checkpoints

Hyper-V Checkpoints are essentially snapshots of a virtual machine that capture the VM’s state at a specific point in time. When you create a checkpoint, the virtual machine’s configuration and disk state are saved as differencing disks with .AVHD extension and an .XML file. If the VM was running during the checkpoint creation, additional files for the Virtual Machine Memory and Devices to be captured (.BIN and .VSV) may also be created.

Once a checkpoint has been created, any changes made to the virtual machine are saved to the differencing disk, leaving the original disk in a read-only state. This allows you to revert the virtual machine back to the checkpoint if any issues arise during upgrades, updates, or hardware reconfiguration.

Managing Hyper-V Checkpoints

SnapShot Master is a powerful software tool that can help IT administrators effectively manage their Hyper-V Checkpoints. With SnapShot Master, administrators can easily view all of their Hyper-V snapshots in one place, schedule the creation and deletion of snapshots on a schedule, and get detailed reporting on their Hyper-V snapshots.

By using SnapShot Master, administrators can avoid the hassle of manually managing their Hyper-V Checkpoints, which can be time-consuming and error-prone. Instead, they can rely on the software to handle the process automatically, ensuring that snapshots are created and deleted on a schedule that’s convenient for them.

SnapShot Master also provides detailed reporting on Hyper-V snapshots, giving administrators valuable insights into how their virtual machines are performing and helping them identify any issues that may need to be addressed. With this information, administrators can make informed decisions about how to optimize their virtual machines and ensure that they’re running at peak performance.

In summary, SnapShot Master is a must-have tool for any IT administrator who wants to effectively manage their Hyper-V Checkpoints. With its powerful features and intuitive interface, it makes it easy to schedule and manage snapshots, and provides valuable reporting that can help administrators optimize their virtual machines for maximum performance.

How to Schedule a Hyper-V Snapshot / Checkpoint

Hyper-V Checkpoint Tree

The Hyper-V Checkpoint Tree shows each and every checkpoint created for the virtual machine selected. Each subsequent checkpoint stems from the previous one with the delta changes stored on the checkpoint’s disk which is the difference between the current state and the last checkpoint created.


HyperV Checkpoint Tree

Scheduling a Hyper-V Checkpoint

List all your Hyper-V VMs

Now that you understand Hyper-V Checkpoints a little better, we can now start scheduling their creation.

Open your SnapShot Master console and let it sync with your Hyper-V environment and populate the console with your virtual machines.


Schedule HyperV Checkpoint

Select your Hyper-V VMs

Once all your virtual machines have shown up, choose the VMs you want to create a checkpoint for by checking the checkbox. You can choose to either do a single machine or multiple machines. In this example Ill create a checkpoint for multiple VMs. Right Click any VM and from the menu go to Selected VMs then Take Snapshot.

Create your Hyper-V Checkpoints

Once all your virtual machines have shown up, choose the VMs you want to create a checkpoint for by checking the checkbox. You can choose to either do a single machine or multiple machines. In this example Ill create a checkpoint for multiple VMs. Right Click any VM and from the menu go to Selected VMs then Take Snapshot.


Schedule HyperV Checkpoint Selection

Hyper-V Checkpoints Scheduled Description

You can now give the Scheduled Hyper-V Checkpoint job a name then click OK.

This makes identification of each of the Hyper-V Checkpoints at a later date.


Schedule HyperV Checkpoint Name Creation

Hyper-V Checkpoints Execution

Choose if you wish for the Hyper-V Checkpoint to run now, or to be scheduled for a later time.

If you excute now, you can skip the remaining steps, as SnapShot Master will kick off your Hyper-V Checkpoint straight away.


Schedule HyperV Checkpoint Execution

Hyper-V Checkpoints Schedule Window

The task scheduler window now starts up. Click on NEW to create a new scheduled task.


Hyper-V Checkpoints Schedule Date and Time

Choose a date and time that you want to schedule the Hyper-V Checkpoint for then click OK and then Click OK again on the task scheduling window. The Hyper-V Checkpoints will now be created at the time you have scheduled.


Hyper-V Checkpoints Scheduled Jobs

To view Job Status of your scheduled tasks within SnapShot Master, go to the JOBS tab and then Scheduled Jobs. You can see Active / Recent Jobs, Scheduled Jobs as well as Job History.


Hyper-V Checkpoints Email Alerts

Now when the time you have scheduled the creation of the Hyper-V checkpoint comes, SnapShot Master will automate this. If you have email notifications setup within SnapShot Master, you will receive emails detailing when the job started and finalised.


SnapShot Master Email Notification Status

To learn more about the features of SnapShot Master, click to Manage and Schedule your Hyper-V Checkpoints.

Download a trial of SnapShot Master today.

To trial SnapShot Master, fill in the form below to get access to download the trial software.



 

FREE DOWNLOAD

Send download link to:

I confirm that I have read and agree to the End User License Agreement.

Why schedule your Hyper-V Checkpoints?

Hyper-V checkpoints allow administrators to capture the state of a virtual machine (VM) at a specific point in time. Scheduling Hyper-V checkpoints provides a number of benefits, including:

  1. Disaster Recovery: By regularly scheduling checkpoints, administrators can create a historical record of the state of a VM, which can be used for disaster recovery purposes. In the event of a failure or data loss, an earlier checkpoint can be used to restore the VM to a previous state.
  2. Testing and Development: Checkpoints can also be used to test changes to a virtual environment without affecting the production environment. Administrators can make changes to a checkpointed VM, test the changes, and revert to the checkpoint if the changes prove to be unsuccessful.
  3. Maintenance: Scheduling checkpoints can also simplify the process of performing maintenance on a virtual environment. By creating a checkpoint prior to performing maintenance, administrators can revert to the checkpoint if necessary, reducing the risk of downtime.
  4. Compliance: Regular checkpoint scheduling can also help organizations meet compliance requirements by providing a historical record of the state of virtual environments.

In summary, scheduling Hyper-V checkpoints provides a simple and effective way to ensure disaster recovery, simplify testing and development processes, minimize downtime during maintenance, and meet compliance requirements.

The benefits of scheduling Hyper-V checkpoints include:

  1. Data protection: Scheduling checkpoints provides a historical record of the state of a virtual machine (VM) at a specific point in time, which can be used for disaster recovery purposes. In the event of a failure or data loss, an earlier checkpoint can be used to restore the VM to a previous state.
  2. Testing and development: Checkpoints allow administrators to test changes to a virtual environment without affecting the production environment. This can be useful for software development, testing, and quality assurance processes.
  3. Maintenance: Scheduling checkpoints can simplify the process of performing maintenance on a virtual environment. By creating a checkpoint prior to performing maintenance, administrators can revert to the checkpoint if necessary, reducing the risk of downtime.
  4. Compliance: Regular checkpoint scheduling can also help organizations meet compliance requirements by providing a historical record of the state of virtual environments.
  5. Efficient use of resources: Checkpoints are stored as differencing virtual hard disks and do not consume a large amount of disk space. This allows administrators to create multiple checkpoints without consuming a significant amount of storage resources.
How to Create a Hyper-V Template for Deployment

How to Create a Hyper-V Template for Deployment

by | Jul 18, 2016 | Deployment, How To, Microsoft HyperV

Revolutionizing Document Archiving for SharePoint Online

How to Create a Hyper-V Template for Deployment

If you ever need to deploy Virtual Machines often a great time saving way is to create a VM Template for quick and easy deployment.

The main reason for creating a Hyper-V Template is to save time and effort when deploying Virtual Machines. By having a standardised and consistent configuration, deploying a new VM becomes a streamlined process that can be accomplished quickly and easily. This also reduces the chances of human error and helps ensure that all VMs deployed from the template have the same configuration, reducing the need for manual intervention and troubleshooting. Additionally, using a template helps enforce best practices and promotes standardisation across an organisation, improving the overall management and efficiency of the virtual infrastructure.

VM templates give you the advantage of a consistent configuration that is standardised format that is reusable.

To create a Hyper-V VM Template follow these steps;

What Are Hyper-V Templates?

A Hyper-V template is a pre-configured virtual machine (VM) that can be used to quickly create new VMs with identical configurations. Templates can include operating systems, applications, settings, and configurations. This means that you can deploy new VMs with just a few clicks, without having to manually install and configure each one.

Why Use Hyper-V Templates?

Using Hyper-V templates can save time and effort when deploying new VMs. Instead of creating each VM manually, you can simply select a pre-configured template that meets your needs. This can be especially useful for creating multiple VMs with identical configurations, such as in a test environment or for a specific application.

Templates also ensure consistency and standardization across your virtual infrastructure. By using the same template for each new VM, you can ensure that each VM has the same configuration and settings. This can make it easier to manage and troubleshoot your virtual infrastructure.

Hyper-V Template Benefits

There are several benefits to creating a Hyper-V template, including:

  1. Consistency and Standardization: By creating a Hyper-V template, administrators can ensure that all virtual machines (VMs) created from the template have a consistent configuration and operating system setup. This can help to reduce administrative overhead and minimize the risk of configuration errors.
  2. Faster Deployment: Creating a Hyper-V template allows administrators to deploy new VMs much faster compared to manually installing the operating system and configuring the necessary software on each individual VM.
  3. Reduced Storage Requirements: Hyper-V templates are stored as a single VHD (virtual hard disk) file, which can be much more efficient in terms of storage compared to storing multiple VMs each with their own VHD file.
  4. Increased Scalability: By using a Hyper-V template, administrators can quickly and easily create new VMs as needed to support business growth and changing requirements.
  5. Improved Disaster Recovery: With a Hyper-V template in place, administrators can quickly recreate VMs in the event of a disaster, reducing downtime and minimizing the impact on the business.
  6. Enhanced Security: By using a Hyper-V template, administrators can enforce security policies and configuration standards for all VMs created from the template, helping to maintain a secure computing environment.
  7. Improved Compliance: For organizations that must comply with industry or regulatory standards, using a Hyper-V template can help ensure that all VMs meet the necessary requirements.

Open System Centre Virtual Machine Manager

Open your SCVMM (Microsoft System Centre Virtual Machine Manager) console, click Hosts then Right Click and choose Create Virtual Machine.


Create HyperV Template

Create Virtual Machine Wizard

 Next, the Create Virtual Machine Wizard will start up. Choose Create the new virtual machine with a blank virtual hard disk and click Next.


Create HyperV Template 2

Create Virtual Machine Wizard

Now we need to give the VM a name and description. In this example I am using the Windows 2012 R2 operating system so the name and description are shown as such. As the Hyper-V host is Windows 2012 R2 as well, I can choose either Generation 1 or Generation 2 VM. Generation 2 VMs add the following new functionality;

  • PXE boot by using a standard network adapter
  • Boot from a SCSI virtual hard disk
  • Boot from a SCSI virtual DVD
  • Secure Boot (enabled by default)
  • UEFI firmware support

Create HyperV Template 14

Edit Virtual Machine Hardware Configuration

We can now edit the VMs hardware configuration. Choose the appropriate hardware settings you wish, make sure to have selected your installation media and then selected Hyper-V for compatibility and click on Next

Create HyperV Template 4

Choose where your Hyper-V VM Destination

Select the Destination where the VM will reside.

Create HyperV Template 5

Select your Hyper-V Host

Now Select the Host to deploy to and then click Next.


Create HyperV Template6

Select your Hyper-V Host

 On the Configure Settings tab, choose the location where the VM will keep its virtual hard disk and then click Next.

Create HyperV Template 7

Configure your Hyper-V Template Settings

 On the Configure Settings tab, choose the location where the VM will keep its virtual hard disk and then click Next.

Create HyperV Template 7

Choose your network adapter

Select the appropriate network, adapter and virtual switch then click Next.

Create HyperV Template 8

Template Hardware Options

You can now choose a few options including if you wish to Turn the machine on automatically and specify the operating system that you will install.

Create HyperV Template 9

Ready to create the Hyper-V Template

Check that the settings are correct, and when you are ready to, click Create.


Create HyperV Template 10

Power On the Hyper-V Template

Now power on the VM if you have done so already, and install the operating system of your choice

Create HyperV Template 11

Power On the Hyper-V Template

Now once you have installed the Windows Operating System, do not join the domain. Log on to the VM, open a command prompt and go to the Windows, System32, Sysprep folders then run sysprep.exe

Sysprep (System Preparation) is a Microsoft utility tool designed for system administrators to automate the deployment of Windows operating systems. It is used to prepare an operating system for disk cloning or for delivery to end-users.

Sysprep performs several key tasks, including:

  1. Generalizing the system: Sysprep removes specific information from the Windows installation that is unique to the system, such as the security identifier (SID), computer name, and drivers.
  2. Configuring the Windows Security settings: Sysprep can reset security settings to default settings, ensuring that all new installations of the operating system will have the same security settings.
  3. Removing the activation files: Sysprep can remove activation files, allowing the cloned operating system to be activated on a new computer.
  4. Shutting down the system: After preparing the operating system, Sysprep shuts down the computer, making it ready for disk imaging or delivery to an end-user.

Sysprep is a critical component in the deployment of Windows operating systems and is an essential tool for system administrators. It enables them to efficiently and easily deploy operating systems to multiple computers, ensuring that each installation is fully configured and ready to use.

 

Create HyperV Template 12

Power On the Hyper-V Template

You will now be presented with the System Preparation tool. Make sure to check the Generalize checkbox as well as Shutdown in the shutdown options dropdown then click OK.

Once the system has been prepared, the VM will power off.

Create HyperV Template 13

Power On the Hyper-V Template

 Now that the VM has powered off, we need to convert it to a template. Highlight the powered off VM, right click and then Create and Create VM template to start the wizard.

HyperV Create VM Template

Hyper-V Template Creation Warning

Next a warning is shown that you are about to convert this VM to a template. “Creating a template will destroy the source virtual machine “vm name”. The virtual hard disk of the virtual machine will be generalized to create the new template and any user data of the virtual machine may be lost. To prevent this, you can create a clone of “vm name”  before using it to create a template. 

Make sure you understand what you are committing this VM to and click Yes to continue.

Create HyperV Template 17

Create Hyper-V Template Wizard Starts

Now the Create VM Template Wizard starts. Give the template a name and description then click Next.

Create HyperV Template 18

Confirm Template Hardware Configuration

Check you are happy with the hardware configuration then click Next.

Create HyperV Template 19

Configure Operating System Settings

The Configure Operating System Tab we can change settings for the OS. Time Zones, whether you wish it to join a domain automatically or not, and any additional Operating System Roles or Features you wish can be configured here. Change what you need and then click Next.

Create HyperV Template 20

Choose a Server Library

On the Select Library Server tab, choose one of your library servers and choose Next.

HyperV Create VM Template 22

Choose a Server Library

Select the UNC Path location for the files to save to. Be mindful that other Hyper-V servers within your environment will require access to this folder.

Create HyperV Template 23

Choose a Server Library

Finally, on the Summary Tab, you can view the script details to see the settings you have chosen. Confirm you are happy with the settings then click on Create. 

Create HyperV Template 24

Thats all there is to it. Your SCVMM and Hyper-V environment should now be preparing the selected VM and converting it to a template for consistent deployment to your virtual environment.

Hyper-V templates can be a valuable tool for businesses looking to streamline their virtual infrastructure. By creating pre-configured templates, you can save time and effort when deploying new VMs, ensure consistency and standardization, and make it easier to manage your virtual infrastructure. By following best practices for managing templates, you can ensure that your virtual infrastructure is efficient, reliable, and scalable.

FAQ about Hyper-V templates

  1. What is a Hyper-V template?
    A Hyper-V template is a pre-configured virtual machine image used as a starting point for creating new virtual machines. It allows administrators to standardize virtual machine configurations, reducing the time and effort required to deploy new virtual machines.
  2. How do I create a Hyper-V template?
    To create a Hyper-V template, you need to create a new virtual machine and configure it as desired. Then, shut down the virtual machine and convert it to a template. This can be done through the Hyper-V Manager or through PowerShell.
  3. What are the benefits of using a Hyper-V template?
    The benefits of using a Hyper-V template include reduced deployment time, standardization of virtual machine configurations, and the ability to easily update virtual machines. Templates also allow administrators to quickly deploy new virtual machines, reducing the risk of human error.
  4. What should I include in my Hyper-V template?
    Your Hyper-V template should include all of the necessary software and configurations for your virtual machines. This might include operating systems, applications, security updates, and network configurations.
  5. Can I use a Hyper-V template for different types of virtual machines?
    Yes, Hyper-V templates can be used for different types of virtual machines, including domain controllers, file servers, and web servers.
  6. How do I update a Hyper-V template?
    To update a Hyper-V template, you need to update the virtual machine that the template is based on. After making the desired updates, shut down the virtual machine and then update the template.
  7. What are the limitations of using a Hyper-V template?
    The main limitation of using a Hyper-V template is that it only provides a starting point for virtual machines. Administrators still need to configure each virtual machine individually, as the template does not automatically configure unique settings such as IP addresses.
  8. What are some best practices for creating Hyper-V templates?
    Some best practices for creating Hyper-V templates include ensuring that all software and configurations are up-to-date, including only necessary software, and testing the template before deploying it to production. Additionally, it is important to regularly update templates to ensure that virtual machines are always running the latest software and configurations.