1.30 Restoring Virtual Machines

The restore operation loads a virtual machine’s previously saved memory-state file and starts the virtual machine. The virtual machine does not boot the operating system but resumes at the point that it was previously saved. The operation is somewhat similar to coming out of hibernation.

The restore operation deletes the previously-saved memory-state file and assigns the virtual machine a new ID. The virtual machine name and UUID remain the same as previously saved.

IMPORTANT:After using the save operation, do not boot, start, or run the virtual machine you intend to restore. If the virtual machine is at any time restarted before it is restored, the saved memory-state file becomes invalid and should not be used to restore.

Restore a Virtual Machine’s Current State (Virtual Machine Manager)

  1. Make sure the virtual machine to be restored has not been started since you ran the save operation.

  2. Run Virtual Machine Manager.

  3. In Virtual Machine Manager, click File > Restore saved machine from the drop-down menu.

  4. Specify the previously-saved file.

  5. Click Open.

    The virtual machine and the guest operating system are restored to the previously-saved state. The memory-state file is automatically deleted.

Restore a Virtual Machine’s Current State (xm Command)

  1. Make sure the virtual machine to be restored has not been started since you ran the save operation.

  2. In the host environment, enter xm restore state-file where state-file is the previously-saved memory-state file.