Snapshot for Storage Virtualize commands
Use this information to learn about commands that are available for Snapshot sessions on Storage Virtualize based storage systems. Snapshot sessions are tied to Storage Virtualize volume groups and allow for the creation of multiple point-in-time copies of the data without requiring the creation of target volumes in advance. To issue a command, go to and click the command.
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| Prepare Safeguarded Snapshot | Use this command prior to triggering the creation of a Safeguarded snapshot, in order minimize the time it takes during the actual point in time creation. This option may be necessary in configurations that need to minimize the potential application impact in the creation of a consistent snapshot. After issuing the command the session will go into a Prepared state. When ready, issue the Trigger Snapshot command which will complete the creation of the Safeguarded snapshot. |
| Create Safeguarded Snapshot | Creates a Safeguarded snapshot of all volumes in the volume group that is associated with the Snapshot session. The server requeries the hardware to ensure that all volumes in the volume group are contained in the new safeguarded snapshot. Each safeguarded snapshot that is created is displayed in the table of snapshots on the session details panel for the session and is marked as Yes in the Safeguarded column. Hosts cannot attach directly to snapshots. To attach hosts to the snapshots, first create a clone or thin clone of the snapshot. |
| Prepare Snapshot | Use this command prior to triggering the creation of a snapshot, in order minimize the time it takes during the actual point in time creation. This option may be necessary in configurations that need to minimize the potential application impact in the creation of a consistent snapshot. After issuing the command the session will go into a Prepared state. When ready, issue the Trigger Snapshot command which will complete the creation of the snapshot. |
| Create Snapshot | Creates a snapshot of all volumes in the volume group that is associated with the Snapshot session. The server requeries the hardware to ensure that all volumes in the volume group are contained in the new snapshot. Each snapshot that is created is displayed in the table of snapshots on the session details panel for the session. Hosts cannot attach directly to snapshots. To attach hosts to the snapshots, first create a clone or thin clone of the snapshot. |
| Trigger Snapshot | Use this command when the session is in a Prepared state after a Prepare Snapshot or Prepare Safeguarded Snapshot command has been issued to the session. After triggering the snapshot, the snapshot will hold a consistent point in time copy of the source volumes at the time of the trigger. |
| Restore from Snapshot | Use this command to restore the volumes in the Volume Group to the point in
time data stored in a selected Snapshot or Safeguarded Snapshot. Important: This command will overwrite all data on the source volumes in the Volume Group.
|
| Restore from Thin Clone | Use this command to restore the volumes in the Volume Group to the point in
time data stored in a selected Snapshot or Safeguarded Snapshot of a Thin Clone of this Snapshot
session's Volume Group. Important: This command will overwrite all
data on the source volumes in the Volume Group.
|
| Create Thin Clone | Use this command to create a thin clone of a selected snapshot. When the command is issued, the user selects one of the existing recoverable snapshots, which is used to create a thin clone. When the command completes, a new volume group is created on the hardware. The volumes in the new volume group hold a snapshot of the data at the time the snapshot selected was taken. Volumes in a thin clone are space efficient and do not perform a full copy of the data but performs only a copy of the changed tracks. Thin clones can be used for forensic analysis to analyze the data at a given point in time or for temporary usage of the data. When the work is complete, Thin clones can be deleted from the Snapshot session they were created in. |
| Refresh Thin Clone | Use this command to refresh the data on a selected set of thin clone volumes
with a different Snapshot or Safeguarded Snapshot. When the command is issued, the user selects one
of the existing thin clones and then one of the existing Snapshots or Safeguarded Snapshots which
will be used to refresh the volumes in the selected thin clone. When the command completes, the
existing volumes in the selected thin clone will hold a snapshot of the data at the time of the
snapshot that was selected. Using the command allows customers to attach their host systems to a single set of volumes when either testing or processing data from a snapshot. |
| Create Clone | Use this command to create a clone of a selected snapshot. When the command is issued, the user selects one of the existing recoverable snapshots, which is used to create a clone. When the command completes, a new Snapshot session is created on the server that is associated to a new volume group on the hardware. The volumes in the new volume group hold a snapshot of the data at the time the snapshot selected was taken. Volumes in a clone perform a full copy of the data in the snapshot, making them full clones of the original volumes at the snapshot time. Cloned snapshots are not associated to the Snapshot session that they were created in and can be managed from the new session as entirely separate volumes. |
| Delete Snapshot | Use this command to delete one of the snapshots in the Snapshot
session. Note: A Safeguarded Snapshot cannot be deleted.
|
| Delete Thin Clone | Use this command to delete a thin clone of a snapshot in the Snapshot session. When a thin clone is deleted, the thin clone volume group and all volumes in the volume group are deleted from the storage system. |
| Refresh States | Refreshes the list of snapshots and thin clones for the volume group that is associated with the session. The Snapshot session refreshes automatically. However, this command can be used to force a refresh. |
| Remove Session | Use this command to remove the Snapshot session from the server. This command can be issued even if there exists a snapshot or thin clones in the session. When the session is removed from the server, all volume groups, snapshots, and thin clone volumes groups remain on the storage system. |