Dell PowerVault MD3260i - Manual (Page 64)

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.
For details on mapping the snapshot virtual disk to the secondary node, see the Dell PowerVault MD3200 and
MD3220 Storage Arrays With Microsoft Windows Server Failover Clusters or
Dell PowerVault MD3200i and
MD3220i Storage Arrays With Microsoft Windows Server Failover Clusters at dell.com/support/manuals.
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.
Creating A Snapshot Virtual Disk
The create snapshotVirtualDisk command provides three methods for defining the physical disks for your
snapshot repository virtual disk:
• Define each physical disk for the snapshot repository virtual disk by enclosure ID and slot ID.
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