Create Checkpoint
Applies To: Opalis 6.3
The Create Checkpoint object is used to save the state of a virtual hard disk that is attached to a virtual machine and all of the disk's contents, including application data files. For virtual machines on Hyper-V and VMware ESX Server hosts, a checkpoint also saves the hardware configuration information.
You can create a checkpoint as a temporary backup before you update the operating system or an application, or before you make a configuration change on a virtual machine. The checkpoint allows you to restore the virtual machine to its previous state if the operation fails or adversely affects the virtual machine. You can create checkpoints only for a virtual machine that is deployed on a virtual machine host. You cannot create checkpoints for a virtual machine that is stored in the library. For a virtual machine that is running on a Hyper-V or VMware host, you can create a checkpoint without stopping the virtual machine. For a virtual machine that is running on a Virtual Server host, you must shut down the virtual machine before you create a checkpoint.
You can create multiple checkpoints for a single virtual machine. Be aware that checkpoints use hard disk space, and, when allowed to proliferate, can affect the performance of a virtual machine when it is running, during migration, and when storing it to the library. Therefore, it is a best practice to remove unnecessary checkpoints.
For the procedure to configure this object, see Configuring the Create Checkpoint Object.
The following tables list the properties and published data for this object. The object publishes all of the data from the required and optional properties into published data.
Create Checkpoint Property
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
VM ID |
The unique identifier (GUID) of the virtual machine for which the checkpoint is being created |
Optional Properties
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
Checkpoint Name |
The name of the checkpoint |
Description |
An alphanumeric description of your choice for the checkpoint |
Create Checkpoint Published Data
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
Accessibility |
Public or Internal |
Added Time |
The date and time that the checkpoint was added, in the format mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm:ss AM or PM |
Checkpoint ID |
The unique identifier (GUID) of the checkpoint |
Checkpoint Name |
The name of the checkpoint |
Checkpoint Platform ID |
The unique identifier (GUID) of the checkpoint inside the platform; for example, Hyper-V, VMWare, or Virtual Server |
Description |
An alphanumeric description of the checkpoint |
Enabled |
True or False. If False, the virtual machine cannot be started. |
Modified Time |
The most recent modification date and time for the checkpoint, in the format mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm:ss AM or PM |
Most Recent Task |
The last recorded task for the checkpoint, for example, Start virtual machine |
Parent Checkpoint ID |
The unique identifier (GUID) of the parent of the checkpoint |
Virtual Disk Drives |
The list of virtual disk drive names recorded for the checkpoint |
VM ID |
The unique identifier (GUID) of the virtual machine for which the checkpoint was created |
VM Name |
The name of the virtual machine for which the checkpoint was created |
Configuring the Create Checkpoint Object
To configure the Create Checkpoint object
From the Objects window, drag a Create Checkpoint object to the active Policy window. Double-click the Create Checkpoint object icon.
Click the Properties tab.
In the Configuration section, click the ellipsis button (...), and select the Name of the Virtual Machine Manager computer that you want to connect to with this object. Click OK. The properties required to define this object are displayed in the Properties section.
In the Properties section, assign a value to the required property. If applicable, to automatically populate the value from the data published by any previous object in the workflow, right-click the property box, point to Subscribe, and then click Published data. Click the published data element you want to use, and then click OK. To view additional elements, select Show Common Published Data.
For a list of the data elements published by each object, see the Published Data tables in the object topic. For information about the Common Published Data items, see the "Policy Workflow Rules" chapter of the Opalis Integration Server Client User Guide (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=205284).
To use additional properties, click Optional Properties. In the Add/Remove Property dialog box, select the properties you want to apply to this object from the Available list, and then click the right arrow button (>>). The properties appear in the Selected list. To remove a property from the Selected list, click the property, and then click the left arrow button (<<). Click OK. Assign values to the properties or Subscribe to Published data from any previous object in the workflow, and then click OK.
For information about the settings on the General and Run Behavior tabs, see Common Configuration Instructions for all Objects.
Click Finish.
Other Checkpoint Objects
The Integration Pack for System Center Virtual Machine Manager contains the following additional Checkpoint objects.