52 Planning: MD3200i Series Storage Array Terms and Concepts
Snapshot Repository Virtual Disk
When you create a snapshot virtual disk, it automatically creates a snapshot
repository virtual disk. A snapshot repository is a virtual disk created in the
storage array as a resource for a snapshot virtual disk. A snapshot repository
virtual disk contains snapshot virtual disk metadata and copy-on-write data
for a particular snapshot virtual disk. The repository supports one snapshot
only.
You cannot select a snapshot repository virtual disk as a source virtual disk or
as a target virtual disk in a virtual disk copy. If you select a Snapshot source
virtual disk as the target virtual disk of a virtual disk copy, you must disable all
snapshot virtual disks associated with the source virtual disk.
CAUTION: Before using the Snapshot Virtual Disks Premium Feature in a
Windows® Clustered configuration, you must 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.
Mapping the snapshot virtual disk to the node that does not own the source
virtual disk before the snapshot enabling process is completed can result in
the operating system misidentifying the snapshot virtual disk. This can result
in data loss or an inaccessible snapshot.
For details on mapping the snapshot virtual disk to the secondary node, refer
to the Dell™ PowerVault™ MD3200i and MD3220i Storage Arrays With
Microsoft® Windows Server® Failover Clusters on support.dell.com/manuals.
Virtual Disk Copy
Virtual disk copy is a premium feature you can use to:
•Back up data
• Copy data from disk groups that use smaller-capacity physical disks to disk
groups using greater capacity physical disks
• Restore snapshot virtual disk data to the source virtual disk.
Virtual disk copy generates a full copy of data from the source virtual disk to
the target virtual disk in a storage array.
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