code: def stop_periodic_snapshots(self):
          
          if self._periodic_thread and self._periodic_thread.isAlive():
              self._periodic_thread.stop = True
              self._periodic_thread.join()
              self._periodic_thread = None
docs: Post a stop signal to the thread that takes the periodic snapshots. The
          function waits for the thread to terminate which can take some time
          depending on the configured interval.