Snapshot Master FAQs

Common questions about Snapshot Master.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. The trial is fully-functioning for 30 days, covering all platforms (VMware, Hyper-V, Azure) and all features (manual snapshots, scheduling, reporting, notifications). Request a trial from the product page.

How does licensing work after the trial?

Snapshot Master is a paid product. For licensing pricing and enterprise terms, contact sales@smikar.com.

Does it require an agent on each VM?

No. Snapshot Master talks to the hypervisor management plane (vCenter / SCVMM / Azure) and uses the snapshot APIs each platform exposes. No agent is installed on the individual VMs.

Can I run it from a workstation, or does it need a server?

Either works. Most admins install it on a dedicated admin VM or workstation that has network access to the vCenter / SCVMM / Azure endpoints. There is no Snapshot Master server-side service; the Windows console is the whole product.

Is a snapshot a backup?

No. A snapshot is a point-in-time disk state preserved for short-term rollback. It depends on the original VM disks being intact - if the underlying storage fails, snapshots fail with it. Use snapshots as safety nets for short-term operations and use proper backup tools for long-term protection.

How long can I keep a snapshot before performance suffers?

Platform-dependent and workload-dependent. As a rule of thumb:

• VMware - performance degrades noticeably after several days. Best practice is 1-3 days for a working snapshot, no more than 7.
• Hyper-V - similar pattern, possibly more forgiving for low-I/O VMs.
• Azure - snapshots are stored separately and do not degrade running VM performance the same way; storage cost is the main consideration.

Use scheduling with retention rules to enforce limits automatically.

Can multiple admins use the same install?

Yes. Each admin's actions are recorded in the audit log with their Windows user identity. For shared installs, the audit log is the per-admin attribution trail.

What happens if my vCenter / SCVMM credentials change?

Snapshot Master prompts you to update the connection credentials. Existing connections stop working until you re-authenticate; existing snapshots on the VMs are unaffected.

Does it work with vSphere Standalone Hosts (no vCenter)?

No - Snapshot Master uses the vCenter API. Standalone ESXi hosts without vCenter are not supported. For Hyper-V the direct-host connection mode exists for environments without SCVMM.

Can I script Snapshot Master operations?

Snapshot Master is primarily a UI tool. For scripted automation, the underlying platforms (VMware PowerCLI, Hyper-V PowerShell, Azure CLI) provide direct APIs. Snapshot Master's value is consolidating cross-platform admin into one console; the scripted equivalent would require per-platform scripts.

How do I uninstall it?

Windows Settings → Apps → Snapshot Master → Uninstall. The connection credentials and audit log are stored in the application data folder - delete it manually if you want full cleanup.

No remote-side cleanup is needed. Snapshot Master does not install anything on vCenter, SCVMM, or in Azure - uninstalling removes the local Windows install only.

Need help? support@smikar.com.