What is the preferred method to shutdown the WM?

Shutting down the guest operating system is the preferred method because it allows the virtual machine (VM) to close applications and processes gracefully. This process helps to ensure that all data is saved appropriately and that the system state is preserved without potential data loss or corruption. By following this method, any in-progress transactions, logged activities, and temporary files have the opportunity to be properly managed, reducing the likelihood of issues the next time the VM is started.

In contrast, methods like power off immediately or force shutdown can lead to abrupt disconnection from applications and loss of unsaved data. These methods can leave the filesystem in an inconsistent state, potentially leading to further complications when the system is restarted. While rebooting the system also initiates a shutdown process, it may not allow for all applications and services to close correctly, which can induce similar risks to using the power off options.

Thus, shutting down the guest OS is not only a best practice for maintaining the integrity of the data and the system but also contributes to the overall stability of operations within the virtual environment.