Snapshot Repository Virtual Disk Capacity - Threshold Exceeded

What Caused the Problem?

A snapshot repository virtual disk capacity has exceeded a warning threshold level. If the repository virtual disk's capacity becomes full, its associated snapshot virtual disk can fail. The Recovery Guru Details area provides specific information you will need as you follow the recovery steps.

Caution: Risk of Snapshot Virtual Disk Failure. This failure should be resolved immediately to ensure you maintain a usable snapshot virtual disk.

Important Notes

The repository virtual disk's failure policy determines what happens when the repository becomes full. The failure policy can be set to either fail the snapshot (default setting) or fail incoming I/O to the snapshot's base virtual disk. You set a repository virtual disk's failure policy when you first create a snapshot. To view the failure policy for a virtual disk, click the View Storage Array Profile link from the Support tab, then click the Virtual Disks tab, and then the Repositories tab.
If you do not resolve this problem, this is the last warning you will receive before the snapshot's repository virtual disk becomes full.
You have the option of increasing the capacity of the repository virtual disk or increasing the repository threshold capacity warning level. Note that increasing the warning threshold will reduce the time you have to respond the next time you receive a threshold exceeded notification. If you have Alert Notifications configured, you will receive notification when the snapshot repository virtual disk exceeds the increased level.

Recovery steps

If...

Then...

The snapshot virtual disk associated with this snapshot repository virtual disk is still needed (for backup purposes or other operations)

Go to step 2.

The snapshot virtual disk associated with this snapshot repository virtual disk is NO LONGER needed (You are finished with backups or other operations)

BUT

You want to keep the repository virtual disk to re-create this snapshot in the future

a	From the Modify tab, click the Modify Snapshot Virtual Disks link.
b	Click the Disable Snapshot link.
c	Select the snapshot virtual disk and then click the Disable button.
d	When you are ready, from the Modify tab click the Modify Snapshot Virtual Disks link, and then click the Re-Create Snapshot Virtual Disks link to create a new instance of the snapshot virtual disk.
e	Go to step 6.

The snapshot virtual disk associated with this snapshot repository virtual disk is NO LONGER needed (You are finished with backups or other operations)

AND

You want to delete the snapshot virtual disk and the associated snapshot repository virtual disk

From the Modify tab, click the Delete Virtual Disks link.

Delete the snapshot virtual disk associated with the affected snapshot repository.

Note: Deleting a snapshot virtual disk automatically removes the corresponding snapshot repository virtual disk.

Go to step 6.

If...

Then...

The snapshot virtual disk associated with this snapshot repository virtual disk is NOT a part of a copy operation

The snapshot virtual disk associated with this snapshot repository virtual disk is part of a copy operation and its copy status is Completed

Go to step 3.

The snapshot virtual disk associated with this snapshot repository virtual disk is also a source virtual disk in a copy operation and its copy status is Pending or In Progress

From the Modify tab, click the Manage Virtual Disk Copies link.

If...

Then...

You want to keep the data being copied

Allow the copy operation to complete, and then go to step 3.

You do not want to keep the data being copied

Select the copy pair that contains the snapshot virtual disk and then click the Stop button.

Note: If you chose to create a new instance of the snapshot virtual disk later, you can create a new copy with new data by selecting the copy pair that contains the snapshot virtual disk and clicking the Re-Copy button.

Go to step 3.

The snapshot virtual disk associated with this snapshot repository virtual disk is also a source virtual disk in a copy operation and its copy status is Failed

a	Click the Modify tab.
b	Click the Manage Virtual Disk Copies link.
c	Select the copy pair that contains the snapshot virtual disk.
d	Click the Stop button. Note: If you chose to create a new instance of the snapshot virtual disk as part of this recovery procedure, you can create a new copy with new data by selecting the copy pair that contains the snapshot virtual disk and clicking the Re-Copy button.
e	Go to step 3.

It will help to estimate how quickly the snapshot's repository capacity is being used when determining whether you should increase the capacity of the repository virtual disk or increase the repository threshold capacity warning level. The following procedures will help you estimate how quickly the repository capacity is being used.

Procedure #1

a	From the Support tab, click the View Storage Array Profile link.
b	Click the Virtual Disks tab, and then click the Repositories tab. Record the snapshot repository's current used capacity.
c	Click the Snapshots tab. Record the snapshot virtual disk's creation timestamp.
d	Use the current date to calculate the time it has taken to reach the current repository capacity level.

Procedure #2

a	From the Support tab, click the View Storage Array Profile link.
b	Click the Virtual Disks tab, and then click the Repositories tab. Record the current time and the repository's current used capacity.
c	Wait 10 minutes and repeat step a.
d	Use the above information to calculate the current rate of repository capacity usage. Note that if the capacity has not changed you may need to increase the wait time in step b.

Use one or both of the procedures to determine the following:

If...

Then...

The snapshot's repository capacity will be close to 100 percent during the snapshot's expected lifetime

You should consider increasing the repository's capacity.

Go to step 4.

The snapshot's repository capacity will NOT be close to 100 percent during the snapshot's expected lifetime

You should consider increasing the repository threshold capacity warning level.

Go to step 4.

If...	Then...
You wish to increase the repository virtual disk's capacity	Go to step 5.
You wish to increase the repository virtual disk's capacity threshold warning level	Go to step 6.

a	Click the Modify tab, then click Modify snapshot virtual disks. Click Expand Snapshot Repository. Click the snapshot repository virtual disk you want to expand. If necessary, you can add free capacity to the disk group by adding an unassigned disk. To add an unassigned disk: Click Add Disks. Select the capacity to add from the drop-down menu. Click Add. Enter the amount by which you want to expand the snapshot repository virtual disk in the Increase capacity by field. Click Finish to expand the capacity of the snapshot repository virtual disk.
b	Wait for the virtual disk capacity expansion to complete. Select the Operations in Progress link from the Summary tab In the storage management software to monitor the capacity expansion's progress.
c	Go to step 7.

Open a Command Prompt, and type the following command:

SMcli -n <storageArray_name>;

where storageArray_name is the name of the storage array listed in the Details area.

Note: If you receive an error from this command, change your working directory to the directory that contains the SMcli executable.

Execute the following command in order to increase the repository virtual disk's capacity threshold warning level:

set virtualDisk ["snapRepName"] warningThresholdPercent=percentValue;

where snapRepName is the name of the snapshot repository virtual disk, and percentValue is the new, larger repository virtual disk capacity threshold warning level.

For example, the following would be a valid command to increase the repository virtual disk capacity threshold warning level to 75 percent:

set virtualDisk ["Accounting_R1"] warningThresholdPercent=75;

Go to step 7.

Click the Recheck button to rerun the Recovery Guru. The failure should no longer appear in the Summary area. If the failure appears again, contact your technical support representative.

Note: Additional information on this issue may be available. Please visit the Dell support website at support.dell.com and select your product model. Choose "troubleshooting" as your tool option, then search by this procedure title.