How can an operator take a snapshot of a VM while keeping it online?

Taking a snapshot of a virtual machine (VM) while it remains online is critical for ensuring minimal downtime during operations. The correct approach involves the option to quiesce the guest file system, which ensures that the data within the VM is in a consistent state at the time the snapshot is taken.

When the option to quiesce is selected, VMware uses the VMware Tools installed within the guest operating system to pause any ongoing write operations and prepare the file system for the snapshot. This process significantly reduces the chances of capturing an inconsistent state, particularly for applications running on the VM, such as databases, that require data integrity while being snapshotted.

This option is essential for maintaining data consistency and ensuring that applications remain functional without interruption. In contrast, the other methods mentioned would not allow for a live snapshot without significant downtime or operational issues, as they either require the VM to be powered off or involve migrating it, which doesn't pertain to snapshot operations.