Using the Snapshot Feature
65
Enabling the Snapshot Virtual Disk Feature
The first step in creating a snapshot virtual disk is to make sure the feature is
enabled on the storage array. You need a feature key to enable the feature. The
command for enabling the feature key file is:
enable storageArray feature file="
filename
"
where, the
file
parameter is the complete file path and file name of a valid
feature key file. Enclose the file path and file name in quotation marks (" ").
Valid file names for feature key files usually end with
.key
extension.
Creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk with User-Assigned Physical Disks
Creating a snapshot virtual disk by assigning the physical disks allows you to
choose from the available physical disks when defining your storage array
configuration. When you choose the physical disks for your snapshot virtual
disk, you automatically create a new disk group. You can specify which
physical disks to use and the RAID level for the new disk group.
Preparing Host Servers to Create an Initial Snapshot Virtual Disk
CAUTION:
Before you create a new point-in-time image of a source virtual disk,
stop any data access (I/O) activity or suspend data transfer to the source virtual
disk to ensure that you capture an accurate point-in-time image of the source
virtual disk. Close all applications, including Windows Internet Explorer, to make
sure all I/O activity has stopped.
NOTE:
Removing the drive letter of the associated virtual disk(s) in Windows or
unmounting the virtual drive in Linux helps to guarantee a stable copy of the drive
for the Snapshot.
Before creating a snapshot virtual disk, the server has to be in the proper state.
To ensure that the host server is properly prepared to create a snapshot virtual
disk, you can either use an application to carry out this task, or you can
perform the following steps:
1
Stop all I/O activity to the source.
2
Using your Windows system, flush the cache to the source. At the host
prompt, type
SMrepassist -f <
filename-identifier
>
and press <Enter>. See "SMrepassist Utility" in the
Owner’s Manual
for
more information.
book.book Page 65 Friday, March 4, 2011 10:45 AM
Summary of Contents for PowerVault MD3200 Series
Page 1: ...Dell PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Arrays CLI Guide ...
Page 42: ...42 About the Script Commands ...
Page 263: ...Script Commands 263 ...
Page 269: ...268 Sample Script Files ...
Page 271: ...270 CLI Command Updates ...
Page 279: ...Index 278 ...