Dell PowerVault MD3420 - Manual (Page 70)

Table 9. Snapshot Virtual Disk Components
Component Description
Source virtual disk Standard virtual disk from which the snapshot is
created
Snapshot virtual disk Point-in-time image of a standard virtual disk
Snapshot repository virtual disk Virtual disk that contains snapshot metadata and
copy-on-write data for a particular snapshot virtual
disk
The following table lists the snapshot virtual disk commands and brief descriptions of what the
commands do.
Table 10. Snapshot Virtual Disk Commands
Command Description
create snapshotVirtualDisk Creates a snapshot virtual disk.
re-create snapshot Starts a fresh copy-on-write operation by using an
existing snapshot virtual disk.
set (snapshotVirtualDisk) Defines the properties for a snapshot virtual disk
and enables you to rename a snapshot virtual disk.
stop snapshot Stops a copy-on-write operation.
Using Host Servers To Create An Initial Snapshot Virtual
Disk
CAUTION: Before using the Snapshot Virtual Disks Premium Feature in a Microsoft Windows
clustered configuration, you must first map the snapshot virtual disk to the cluster node that
owns the source virtual disk. This ensures that the cluster nodes correctly recognize the snapshot
virtual disk.
If you map the snapshot virtual disk to the node that does not own the source virtual disk before the
snapshot enabling process is completed, the operating system may fail to correctly identify the
snapshot virtual disk. This can result in data loss on the source virtual disk or an inaccessible
snapshot.
NOTE: You can create concurrent snapshots of a source virtual disk on both the source disk group
and on another disk group.
Before creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk, note the following:
• The following types of virtual disks are not valid source virtual disks: snapshot repository virtual disks,
snapshot virtual disks, target virtual disks that are participating in a virtual disk copy.
• You cannot create a snapshot of a virtual disk that contains unreadable sectors.
• You must satisfy the requirements of your host operating system for creating snapshot virtual disks.
Failure to meet the requirements of your host operating system results in an inaccurate point-in-time
image of the source virtual disk or the target virtual disk in a virtual disk copy.
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