Dell PowerVault MD3260i - Manual (Page 49)

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Using The Snapshot Feature
The following types of virtual disk snapshot premium features are supported on the MD storage array:
• Snapshot Virtual Disks using multiple point-in-time (PiT) groups
• Snapshot Virtual Disks (Legacy) using a separate repository for each snapshot
NOTE: This section describes the Snapshot Virtual Disk using PiT groups. If you are using the Snapshot Virtual Disk
(Legacy) premium feature, see
Using The Snapshot (Legacy) Feature .
A snapshot image is a logical image of the content of an associated base virtual disk created at a specific point-in-time,
often known as a restore point. This type of image is not directly readable or writable to a host since the snapshot image
is used to save data from the base virtual disk only. To allow the host to access a copy of the data in a snapshot image,
you must create a snapshot virtual disk. This snapshot virtual disk contains its own repository, which is used to save
subsequent modifications made by the host application to the base virtual disk without affecting the referenced
snapshot image.
Before Using Snapshot CLI Commands
There are two types of virtual disk snapshot premium features supported on your storage array. Depending on your RAID
controller firmware version, you may be using the legacy version of the Snapshot feature. For more information, see
Using The Snapshot (Legacy) Feature .
NOTE: Ensure that you know which type of snapshot premium feature you have activated on your storage array.
For information on the differences between the two snapshot features, see the Administrator's Guide .
Snapshot Images And Groups
A snapshot image is a logical image of the content of an associated base virtual disk created at a specific point-in-time,
also called a restore point. This type of image is not directly readable or writable to a host since the snapshot image is
used to save data from the base virtual disk only. To allow the host to access a copy of the data in a snapshot image, you
must create a snapshot virtual disk. This snapshot virtual disk contains its own repository, which is used to save
subsequent modifications made by the host application to the base virtual disk without affecting the referenced
snapshot image.
A snapshot image differs from a snapshot (legacy) in the following ways:
• A snapshot image uses one repository for all snapshot images associated with a base virtual disk, improving
performance when there are updates to the base virtual disk.
• A snapshot image only exists within a snapshot group. To make the snapshot image read/write accessible by
hosts, you must create a snapshot virtual disk.
For more information on the Snapshot feature, see the Administrator's Guide .
Only the following can be included in a snapshot image:
• Standard virtual disks
• Thin provisioned virtual disks
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