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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.