Merge snapshot in Virtualbox ?

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czezz
Posts: 40
Joined: 22. Apr 2012, 12:07

Merge snapshot in Virtualbox ?

Post by czezz »

VirtualBox: Version 5.1.38_Ubuntu r122592

I have created snapshot (linked colne) from VM slacktemp.
That created VM slacktemp Clone.
See attached screenshot.

I installed some software on VM/Snapshot slacktemp Clone and now I want to merge it to VM slacktemp.
How can I do that?
For the moment, the workaound I found is to:
1. export slacktemp Clone to OVA
2. Remove VM slacktemp and its snapshot slacktemp Clone
3. Import OVA
Attachments
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Last edited by czezz on 7. May 2020, 16:59, edited 1 time in total.
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Merge snapshot in Virtualbox ?

Post by mpack »

There is no such thing as a "merge". Snapshots are markers in time, you can't merge markers. If you no longer need a marker, just highlight it and delete it, but be sure not to pick "revert to" as that will lose all your work.
czezz
Posts: 40
Joined: 22. Apr 2012, 12:07

Re: Merge snapshot in Virtualbox ?

Post by czezz »

Too bad :(
I was hoping for similar functionality as virsh blockcommit
In that case "snapshot" name is misleading.
Anyway, there is a workaround with exporting to OVA. Thanks for reply.
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Merge snapshot in Virtualbox ?

Post by mpack »

I think you missed my point. There is no "merge" because it isn't required. You don't need to concern yourself with what happens to the data when you no longer need it, just say "I no longer need it".
czezz
Posts: 40
Joined: 22. Apr 2012, 12:07

Re: Merge snapshot in Virtualbox ?

Post by czezz »

Either I missed your point OR we are talking here about 2 different concepts...

I want to merge/insert delta/insert diff from the snapshot to the system that the snapshot was taken from.
In other words I want the state of snapshot to become a state of the system that the snapshot was taken from.
With libvirt (kvm) I can do it with virsh blockcommit. I believe VMware snapshots work the same but I never tried it myself.

Does Virtualbox offer such functionality and if not, can u please better explain what do u mean in your previous post?
Pernat1y
Posts: 30
Joined: 11. Jun 2018, 11:43
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows 10, Kali, Fedora/RHEL

Re: Merge snapshot in Virtualbox ?

Post by Pernat1y »

Code: Select all

Delete a snapshot. This does not affect the state of the virtual machine, but only releases
the files on disk that Oracle VM VirtualBox used to store the snapshot data, thus freeing
disk space. To delete a snapshot, right-click on the snapshot name in the snapshots tree
and select Delete. Snapshots can be deleted even while a machine is running.
Hosts: Arch Linux, Windows 10;
Guests: Windows 10, Kali, Fedora/RHEL.
scottgus1
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Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Merge snapshot in Virtualbox ?

Post by scottgus1 »

You have two guests. "slacktemp" and "slacktemp clone"

'slacktemp clone' is a linked clone of 'slacktemp'. This means that at the time you made the linked clone the state of 'slacktemp' was frozen, and the two guests each continued to build in "snapshots" based off the frozen state of 'slacktemp':
      make linked clone
              v
slacktemp ----|-----------difference snapshot of slacktemp
              |-----------difference snapshot of slacktemp clone
Virtualbox does not have a clean easy reliable way to move the 'difference snapshot' of data from 'slacktemp clone' to 'slacktemp'. (that I know of...)

You have a few choices:

1. use inside-the-guest backup software to copy the data and programs added to 'slacktemp clone' over to 'slacktemp' (not a Virtualbox process)

2. Continue your OVA-exporting process

3. Instead of making a linked clone of 'slacktemp', make a full clone of 'slacktemp'. This full clone is a complete standalone guest. Delete the originals as needed.
czezz
Posts: 40
Joined: 22. Apr 2012, 12:07

Re: Merge snapshot in Virtualbox ?

Post by czezz »

Scott, thank you for this reply and explanation.
This should close this discussion with outcome that OVA (2) is a way to go/workaround (for me).
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