Snapshots

In this topic:

Viewing snapshot information

Creating snapshots

Reverting snapshots

Deleting snapshots

Viewing Snapshot Information

When Snapshots is opened from DataCore Devices, the initial view is a complete list of the snapshots of datastores along with basic snapshot information. Snapshot actions are initiated from this area. 

Snapshots List

The Snapshots list is a  complete inventory of all snapshots of datastores, the name of the associated datastore, and the timestamp when created.

Select a snapshot in the list to view details.

Snapshot Details

Snapshot Details

Snapshot name.

Date: Timestamp of the snapshot.

Type: Differential or Full (clone)

Insert Check Point: Yes or No as to whether a check point was sent when the snapshot was created.

Datastore: Name of the datastore from which the snapshot was created.

Virtual Machines: Name of the virtual machine using the datastore.

DataCore snapshots: The name of the snapshot displayed in the DataCore Management Console.

Creating Snapshots

The Create Snapshot operation creates a snapshot in DataCore software of a selected datastore. Snapshots can be used to create new virtual machines or restore current virtual machines.

Snapshots will have the same name as the source datastore with the timestamp appended.

Also see Scheduled Tasks to create snapshots as a scheduled task.

  • In order to successfully quiesce virtual machines before taking snapshots, VMware tools must be installed on the guest operating system. (Note: Virtual machines that are not quiesced will still be saved in the snapshot and may be reverted (restored), although those restored virtual machines may be in a crash-consistent state.)
  • In order to send checkpoint markers to update snapshots on the replication destination, a snapshot must be pre-selected for the replication destination. (In the DataCore Management Console, select the snapshot to be updated in the Virtual Disk Details page>Replication tab for the destination virtual disk.)
  • If a preferred snapshot pool was selected in DataCore software before the DataCore Plug-in for VMware vSphere was installed, the same pools should be preferred by the plug-in.

To create a snapshot:

  1. In the DataCore Devices box on the DataCore, click Snapshots.
  2. In the menu bar, click Create. The Create Snapshot wizard opens.
  3. In the list, select the datastore from which to create the snapshot and click Next.  

  4. Select the virtual machines to quiesce, if desired, and click Next.

    Quiescing will put the virtual machine in a consistent state before the snapshot is created. The snapshot will be created of the entire datastore, but only the selected virtual machines will be quiesced.(A VMware snapshot will also be created for the selected virtual machines and automatically removed once the DataCore SANsymphony snapshot is created.)

  5. Select the snapshot type: differential or full.

    Differential snapshots store only data changes that occur in the future on the virtual disk and the size will grow depending on the amount of changes that occur. Full snapshots are a complete copy of the virtual disk and require the same amount of space as the virtual disk.

    Click Finish to perform the operation.

    If the virtual disk associated with the datastore is the source virtual disk in a replication, select the check box at the bottom of the dialog box to send a checkpoint marker to the replication destination. Checkpoint markers can be used to update existing snapshots on the destination.

Reverting Snapshots

The Revert Snapshot operation will restore the selected virtual machines to the point-in-time when the snapshot was created.

During this operation:

  • The current virtual machines will be stopped and renamed with a retired_<timestamp>. suffix, but will not be deleted.
  • The new virtual machines (reverted snapshot) will be restored to the location (host and datastore) where the virtual machines resided when the snapshot was created.
  • The reverted snapshot will be served to the ESX servers and the virtual machines will be replaced and then restarted.

Reverting snapshots for virtual machines that were not quiesced when the snapshot was created may result in restoring the virtual machine in a crash-consistent state.

To revert snapshots:

  1. In the DataCore Devices box on the DataCore, click Snapshots.
  2. In the Snapshots list, select the snapshot to use to revert and click Revert in the menu bar. The Revert Snapshot wizard opens with a list of virtual machines that can be reverted using the selected snapshot.  
  3. Select the check box for the virtual machines to revert and click Next.  

  4. Select the revert method to use: powered off or powered on. The revert operation will complete faster when virtual machines are powered off. Click Finish to perform the operation.

Deleting Snapshots

Deleting snapshots is a destructive operation and will permanently delete the data on the snapshot.

To delete a snapshot:

  1. In the DataCore Devices box on the DataCore, click Snapshots.
  2. In the Snapshots list, select the snapshot to delete and click Delete in the menu bar.
  3. A warning message will be displayed listing the virtual machines associated with the snapshot. Click Delete to continue with the operation.