Snapshots continue to grow

i've taken snapshot of virtual servers , continue grow until run out of hard drive space.  i'm running windows 2008 , have 900 gb hard drive.  after finish server setup , snapshot have somewhere around 200 gb.  other day virtual's servers wouldn't start.  out of hard drive space.  removed snapshots, rebuilt virtuals , same thing happened.   yesterday @ 140 gigs , today i'm @ 61 gigs.   if don't use snapshots, i'm fine, i'd sure have snapshot fall to.

if turn off virtuals , take snapshot stay same size?  why growing?

jeff

a snapshot not complete copy of virtual machine, stop differencing disk applied , vm continues differencing disk.

 

fyi - not method of backup , should not considered tool disaster recovery.

 

the difference if taking snapshots of running virtual machines, needs dump entire memory state of vm.  might using bunch of space.

 

it noted repeatedly taking snapshots can reduce vm performance chaining bunch of differencing disks together, creating increased seak time find items within virtual disk.

 

a snapshot chain should not use additional disk space origional vm allowed grow (again, assuming disks, not including memory state taken online snapshot of running vm).

 

therefore taking offline snapshot (the vm not running) might reduce disk usage.

 

 

Windows Server  >  Hyper-V