By default, Update Manager is configured to take snapshots of virtual machines before applying updates to the VMs. If the remediation fails, you can use the snapshot to return the virtual machine to its state before the remediation.

Update Manager does not take snapshots of fault tolerant virtual machines and virtual machines of virtual machine hardware version 3. If you decide to take snapshots of such virtual machines, the remediation might fail.

You can choose to keep snapshots for an indefinite or fixed period of time. Use the following guidelines when managing snapshots.

  • Keeping snapshots indefinitely might consume a large amount of disk space and degrade virtual machine performance.
  • Keeping no snapshots saves space, ensures best virtual machine performance, and might reduce the time needed to complete remediation. However, keeping no snapshots limits the availability of a rollback.
  • Keeping snapshots for a set period of time uses less disk space and offers a backup for a short time.

Prerequisites

Required privileges: VMware vSphere Update Manager.Configure

Procedure

  1. In the vSphere Client, select Menu > Update Manager.
  2. Navigate to Menu > Update Manager.
  3. Click the Settings tab.
  4. Select Remediation Settings > VMs.
  5. Click Edit.
    The Edit Default Settings for VM Rollback dialog box opens.
  6. Configure the settings for VM Rollback.
    1. To enable or disable taking of snapshots of virtual machines before upgrading them, select or deselect the Take snapshot of VMs check box.
      The option to take snapshots is selected by default.
    2. Select a period for keeping the snapshots.
      • Keep the snapshots indefinitely.
      • Keep the snapshots for a fixed period.
  7. Click Save.

Results

These settings become the default rollback option settings for virtual machines. You can specify different settings when you configure individual remediation tasks.