14.15.2.9. snapshot-revert domain
Reverts the given domain to the snapshot specified by
snapshot, or to the current snapshot with --current.
Warning
Be aware that this is a destructive action; any changes in the domain since the last snapshot was taken will be lost. Also note that the state of the domain after
snapshot-revert is complete will be the state of the domain at the time the original snapshot was taken.
To revert the snapshot, run
# snapshot-revert domain {snapshot | --current} [{--running | --paused}] [--force]
Normally, reverting to a snapshot leaves the domain in the state it was at the time the snapshot was created, except that a disk snapshot with no guest virtual machine state leaves the domain in an inactive state. Passing either the
--running or --paused option will perform additional state changes (such as booting an inactive domain, or pausing a running domain). Since transient domains cannot be inactive, it is required to use one of these options when reverting to a disk snapshot of a transient domain.
There are two cases where a
snapshot revert involves extra risk, which requires the use of --force to proceed. One is the case of a snapshot that lacks full domain information for reverting configuration; since libvirt cannot prove that the current configuration matches what was in use at the time of the snapshot, supplying --force assures libvirt that the snapshot is compatible with the current configuration (and if it is not, the domain will likely fail to run). The other is the case of reverting from a running domain to an active state where a new hypervisor has to be created rather than reusing the existing hypervisor, because it implies drawbacks such as breaking any existing VNC or Spice connections; this condition happens with an active snapshot that uses a provably incompatible configuration, as well as with an inactive snapshot that is combined with the --start or --pause option.
