Backup and Restore on KVM based Hypervisors

The following covers how to create and restore a snapshot on a KVM-based hypervisor.

Create and Restore Snapshots

The following sections provide instructions for creating and restoring a snapshot.

Create a Snapshot

The following covers how to create a snapshot for a KVM-based hypervisor using virsh or the cockpit.

Using virsh:

1. Switch to your Terminal from the sidebar menu.

2. Enter the command:

   virsh snapshot-create and the name of the virtual machine

   CODE

   (The virtual machine will be paused during the process and started again after creating the snapshot.)

3. Enter the command:

   virsh snapshot-list and the name of the virtual machine

   CODE
4. The just created (and any older) snapshot(s) will be listed.
   

Using cockpit:

1. Open your cockpit and choose Virtual Machines from the sidebar menu.
2. Choose and open the virtual machine you want to take the snapshot from.
3. You may pause the machine or wait for the UI on cockpit to do this automatically.
   
   
   
   As soon as the snapshot is taken the virtual machine will start again automatically.
4. Scroll down in Virtual Machines interface to Snapshots and click the button Create snapshot.
5. A pop-up window appears. Complete and continue with Create.
   
6. Once the snapshot is created, it is displayed among the listed snapshots.
7. Go back to the Virtual Machine and stop pausing.

Restore using a Snapshot

Using virsh:

1. Switch to your Terminal from the sidebar menu.

2. Enter the command:

   virsh snapshot-create and the name of the virtual machine

   CODE

3. Shut down the machine.

4. Enter the command:

   virsh snapshot-revert, the name of the virtual machine and the snapshot

   CODE
5. After the virtual machine is restored it will power on automatically.

Using cockpit:

1. Open your cockpit and choose Virtual Machines from the sidebar menu.
2. Choose and open the virtual machine you want to restore.
3. Shut down the machine.
   
   
   
4. Scroll down in Virtual Machines interface to Snapshots and click the button Revert.
   
   
5. Go back to the Virtual Machine and power it on again.

Delete a Snapshot

Using virsh:

1. Switch to your Terminal from the sidebar menu.

2. Enter the command:

   virsh snapshot-delete, the name of the virtual machine and the snapshot

   CODE

Using cockpit:

1. Open your cockpit and choose Virtual Machines from the sidebar menu.
2. Choose and open the virtual machine.
3. Scroll down in Virtual Machines interface to Snapshots and click the button Delete.