Initially created by InnoTek Systemberatung GmbH in 2007, VirtualBox is a type-2 hypervisor for x86 virtualization. In simpler terms it is a virtualization software with cross-platform application that is free and open sourced. Typically, VirtualBox is necessary to create, manage and run a VM. Now, these VMs can be controlled using a feature known as Snapshot that allows users to start, stop and pause VM applications. But the best thing about a Snapshot is that if taken at a point in time, it can then later restore the VM to the same conditions. Hence, today, the article will cover how to restore VirtualBox Snapshot.
What is a VirtualBox Snapshot?
Oracle VM VirtualBox is a virtualization software. It is a cross-platform application that is not only free and open-sourced but also capable of creating, managing and running virtual machines (VMs). A virtual machine, as the name suggests is software that supports a different architecture and OS. Hence, VirtualBox allows users to extend their existing computers to run multiple OSes including Windows, macOS and Linux.
The initial machine where the application is installed is known as host and the VM created is known as guest. VirtualBox also empowers the users by allowing them to specify how many CPU cores would work, or how much RAM would be needed.
Coming to snapshots, well they are not only crucial but also a powerful feature of VirtualBox. These snapshots allow users to save a VM’s current state, only for future use. Thus, no matter how you change the VM after the snapshot, once restored it will revert to the point when the snap was taken. It is like saving and loading a game. If you play a game without saving after a point, then on loading the last save point, you will lose all progress, good or bad.
How to Take a VirtualBox Snapshot
Before restoring a Snapshot, one has to create one. Hence, the following steps cover the creation of a VirtualBox Snapshot.
- First, check whether your VM is running, in a saved state, or powered off.
- If it is running, simply use the Machine pull-down menu and take a snapshot.
- Otherwise, use the left panel of the VM where the machine name is displayed in the Oracle VM VirtualBox main window and click the list icon next to the machine name, and do the following to take a snapshot.
- Click on the Take Icon.
- Right-click on the Current State item in the list.
- And click on Take.
- Otherwise, use the left panel of the VM where the machine name is displayed in the Oracle VM VirtualBox main window and click the list icon next to the machine name, and do the following to take a snapshot.
- Now, a prompt will be shown asking for a Snapshot name.
- The new snapshot will appear in the snapshot list. And underneath the latest snapshot, you will find a new item called Current State. This is now the latest state of your VM.
How to restore VirtualBox Snapshot
Once you have a Snapshot, you can restore it any time you want. For example, if you run into any kind of error or accidentally delete some system files, you can simply follow these steps to restore VirtualBox to a previous working state.
- Go to the list showing various snapshots.
- Here, select the snapshot you want to be restored and right-click on it.
- Then, click on Restore.
- Doing so will either take the VM back or forward in time.
- Restoring a Snapshot signifies losing the current state of the machine and restoring it to the exact state it was when the snapshot was taken.
