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How to reuse a Repackager virtual machine snapshot

ImportantThe following article uses options that are available starting with the Architect edition and project type.

Snapshots of a system are done before and after installation by the Repackager, and are used to create an installation capture. Starting with Advanced Installer 13.6, before installation snapshots from a VM(Virtual Machine) can be reused for multiple packages, thus making the repackaging process a lot faster. This feature is available for both VMware and Hyper-V images.

NoteSnapshots are binded to the VM image, this is why you cannot use a snapshot for a different VM image.

Follow these steps to reuse a snapshot:

  1. Create or choose a parent folder that will contain all of the repackaged installers outputs.
  2. Follow the steps in Repackaging an existing installation, and set the output path to the parent folder. After repackaging is complete, you will have a SNAPSHOTS folder located in the parent folder. Inside the SNAPSHOTS folder there should be a file with the extension before.snap, this is the before snapshot of the VM which can be used for any number of other repackaging processes.
  3. Repackage your current installer or any other installer in the same output path. The Repackager will automatically use the previously created snapshot of the VM image, instead of creating a new one, saving you precious time.

ImportantMake sure that you always have the parent folder set as the output of the Repackager, and that it contains SNAPSHOTS folder.