Which method allows a user to restore a VM to a previous state in VMware?

Snapshot restoration is a critical feature in VMware that allows users to revert a virtual machine (VM) to a previous state quickly and easily. When a snapshot is taken, it captures the complete state of the VM at that moment, including the virtual disk, memory, and configuration settings. This means that any changes made to the VM after the snapshot was taken can be undone, effectively returning the VM to that saved point in time. This is particularly useful for recovering from mistakes, testing configurations, or troubleshooting issues, as it enables users to restore the VM without the need for a complete reinstallation or backup restoration.

In this context, other methods listed serve different purposes. Cloning creates a full copy of the VM but does not allow the original VM to revert to a previous state. Live Migration and Storage vMotion pertain to the movement of VMs across hosts or storage without downtime, rather than restoring a VM to a previous configuration. Therefore, snapshot restoration stands out as the dedicated method for re-establishing a VM to an earlier state in VMware environments.