Error: "A general system error occurred: Exceeded the maximum number of permitted snapshots" when creating a virtual machine snapshot

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• Creating a virtual machine snapshot fails
• The following error appears:
  
  "A general system error occurred: Exceeded the maximum number of permitted snapshots"

Environment

• VMware vSphere ESXi 7.x and 8.x
• VMware vCenter Server 7.x and 8.x
• VMware NSX-T / NSX Manager

Cause

This issue occurs if the snapshot.maxSnapshots parameter is specified for the virtual machine.

Resolution

To re-enable the snapshot functionality on the VM, perform the following steps.

1. Power down the virtual machine.
2. Right-click the virtual machine in the Web Client and click Edit Settings.
3. Click the VM Options tab, under Advanced, select the Edit Configuration option.
4. Search for a string name called snapshot.maxSnapshots and increase its value.
5. Click OK to save the changes.
6. Power on the virtual machine and create the required snapshot.
   
   Caution: Only modify the snapshot.maxSnapshots parameter with the guidance of VMware technical support. Increasing the number of allowed snapshots beyond the maximum value of 32 is not supported.

Notes

• If the snapshot.maxSnapshots value is not present, manually enter this configuration setting. The setting is not listed by default.
• To disallow snapshots, set the snapshot.maxSnapshots value to 0.

For NSX Appliances

• Do not increase this value for NSX Manager or NSX Edge appliances. Snapshots of NSX appliances are not supported. This value must remain at 0 to prevent snapshot operations that could cause cluster instability or data corruption.
• Use supported NSX file-based backup and restore functionality for these components.
•  TechDocs for reference: Disable Snapshots on an NSX Appliance documentation.