Create Snapshot Virtual Disk Wizard: Additional Instructions for UNIX - Regular Disks

Start the storage management software.

Select the  in either the Tree view or the Table view, and select Tools >> Manage Storage Array.

Within the Logical View of the Array Management Window, select a , and create a snapshot virtual disk by using one of the following methods:

• Using the Create Snapshot Virtual Disk Wizard by selecting Virtual Disk >> Snapshot >> Create from the Array Management Window. For more information, see Using the Create Snapshot Virtual Disk Wizard.
• Creating a snapshot virtual disk using either the Script Editor or a command line shell on the host operating system. Type the following command, and press Enter:
  

  create snapshotVirtual Disk
  

  For command reference information on creating a snapshot virtual disk, refer to the Enterprise Management Window online help.

Assign a  between the snapshot virtual disk and the host that will access the snapshot virtual disk. Virtual Disk-to-LUN mappings can be defined by using one of the following methods:

• Use the Storage Partitioning Wizard. The wizard is started from the Topology pane of the Mappings View, by selecting any node or object, and selecting Mappings >> Define >> Storage Partitioning. For more information, see Using the Storage Partitioning Wizard.
• Use either the Script Editor or a command line shell on the host operating system. Type the following command, and press Enter:
  

  create mapping virtual disk
  

  For command reference information on creating a virtual disk-to-LUN mapping, refer to the Enterprise Management Window online help.

If supported by the operating system, run the  utility (or operating system-specific utility), or reboot the host where the snapshot will be used. This action ensures that the host operating system recognizes the snapshot virtual disk.

After virtual disks have been created and virtual disk-to-LUN mappings have been defined, run the hot_add utility to ensure that the operating system is aware of the newly created virtual disks, without having to reboot the host. For information on which operating systems support the hot_add utility, refer to your operating system-specific storage management software installation guide.

Solaris Operating System-Specific Instructions:

At the host prompt, type the following command, and press Enter:

/etc/raid/bin/hot_add

IRIX Operating System-Specific Instructions:

Perform a path scan. At the host prompt, type the following command, and press Enter:

scsiha -rp <X> <X> ;ioconfig -f /hw; hinv

where <X> is the SCSI RAID controller module number.

After virtual disks have been created and virtual disk-to-LUN mappings have been defined, this step ensures that the operating system is aware of the newly created virtual disks, without having to reboot the host.

Run the  utility to associate the LUN with a host operating system storage array and to ensure that the snapshot virtual disk is recognized by the host.

After virtual disks have been created and virtual disk-to-LUN mappings have been defined, run the SMdevices utility to ensure that the virtual disk name and the operating system storage array name (assigned by the operating system) correlate.

If the snapshot virtual disk is being created for immediate use, go to step 8. If the snapshot virtual disk is being created for use at a later date, disable the snapshot virtual disk now.

Disable the snapshot virtual disk by using one of the following methods:

• Select Virtual Disk >> Snapshot >> Disable in the Array Management Window. For more information, see Disabling a Snapshot Virtual Disk.
• Disable a snapshot virtual disk using either the Script Editor or a command line shell on the host operating system. Type the following command, and press Enter:
  

  disableSnapshot virtual disk
  

  For command reference information on disabling a snapshot virtual disk, refer to the Enterprise Management Window online help.

Important: If I/O activity to the source virtual disk was stopped or data transfer was suspended, resume I/O activity to the source virtual disk at this time (or re-enable data transfer).

Mount the snapshot virtual disk to its intended host.

Use the snapshot virtual disk with your backup application, for speculative testing, or with another application.

Unmount the snapshot virtual disk.

After the snapshot virtual disk is no longer required, disable or delete the snapshot virtual disk.

If you disable the snapshot virtual disk instead of deleting it, you can retain the snapshot virtual disk and its associated . Then, when you need to create a different snapshot of the same source virtual disk, you can re-create the disabled snapshot virtual disk. This action takes less time than creating a new snapshot virtual disk and stops any reduction in performance that might occur if the snapshot virtual disk remains available.

For information on disabling or recreating a snapshot, see Disabling a Snapshot Virtual Disk and Re-creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk. For information on deleting a snapshot virtual disk, see Deleting a Virtual Disk.

For command reference information on disabling, re-creating, and deleting a snapshot virtual disk, refer to the Enterprise Management Window online help.

Important: Stop all I/O activity to the source virtual disk (or data transfer suspended) to ensure that an accurate point-in-time image of the source virtual disk is captured.

Unmount the source virtual disk.

In the storage management software, re-create the snapshot virtual disk by using one of the following methods:

• Select Virtual Disk >> Snapshot >> Re-create in the Array Management Window. For more information, see Re-creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk.
• Re-create a snapshot virtual disk by using either the Script Editor or a command line shell on the host operating system. Type the following command, and press Enter:
  

  recreateSnapshot virtual disk
  

  For command reference information on re-creating a snapshot virtual disk, refer to the Enterprise Management Window online help.

Remount the source virtual disk to its original host.

Mount the snapshot virtual disk to its intended host.

Important: If I/O activity to the source virtual disk was stopped or data transfer was suspended, resume I/O activity to the source virtual disk at this time (or reenable data transfer).

Use the snapshot virtual disk with your backup application (or with another application).

Unmount the snapshot virtual disk.

When the use of the snapshot virtual disk is no longer required, disable the snapshot virtual disk.

If you disable the snapshot virtual disk instead of deleting it, you can retain the snapshot virtual disk and its associated snapshot repository virtual disk. Then, when you need to create a different snapshot of the same source virtual disk, you can re-create the disabled snapshot virtual disk. This action takes less time than creating a new snapshot virtual disk and stops any reduction in performance that might occur if the snapshot virtual disk remains available.

For more information, see Disabling a Snapshot Virtual Disk and Re-creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk. For command reference information on disabling and re-creating a snapshot virtual disk, refer to the Enterprise Management Window online help.