VMware Snapshot Removal Best Practice

This best practice collateral on VMware snapshot. VMware recommends to keep copy of SNAPSHOT Only for 2 Weeks and Remove those Snapshot Right After the Upgrade especially if the VM changes lots delta files like SQL, Backup Server etc. It's important to note that the VMware Snapshot is not replacement for normal backup solution as shown in VMware KB Article.

This solution to proactively avoid unintended systems outages on production and non-production workloads due to VM Snapshot issue by consuming all SAN storage space with snapshot data.

Reference KB Article: https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1025279

Access Operations / Pre-requisite

- Ensure Access to VMware vCenter with Privilege Administrator RBAC Role

- vCenter URL / IP

Operational Procedures

Step 1 – Login into vCenter Portal

Step 2 – Select the VM workload > Right-Click and Select Snapshot > Manage Snapshots

Step 3 – Select the VM Snapshots File > Choose DELETE ALL

Step 4 – Select Done

Exhibit 1 - VMware Snapshot UI

Tech Notes:

Removed ALL VMware Snapshot Post Upgrade and/or as soonest when it's no longer requirement.

Published:

Henry Ruelan - VCAP / VCIX (DCD)

Sr. Principal Cloud Engineer