Dell EMC PowerVault MD 34XX/38XX Series Storage Arrays Administrator's Guide

Creating snapshot image

You can create a snapshot image by either selecting a base virtual disk or by selecting an existing snapshot group.

1. From the AMW, select the base virtual disk you are copying and select Copy Services > Snapshot Image > Create.
   The Select or Create a Snapshot Group window is displayed.
2. Do one of the following:
   • If snapshot groups exist on the base virtual disk or if the base virtual disk already has the maximum number of snapshot groups, the An Existing Snapshot Group radio button is selected by default. Go to step 3.
   • If the base virtual disk does not contain any snapshot groups, the following message is displayed: There are no existing snapshot groups on this base virtual disk. Use the option below to create a new snapshot group. You must create a snapshot group on the base virtual disk before you can proceed. Go to step 4.
3. If you want to create a snapshot image on an existing snapshot group:
   1. Select a snapshot group from the existing snapshot group table.
      NOTE: Ensure that you select a snapshot group that has not reached its maximum limit of snapshot images.
   2. Click Finish to automatically complete the snapshot image creation process and then go to step 5.
4. If you want to create a snapshot group for the snapshot image, you must select how you want to create the snapshot group repository. Do one of the following:
   • Select Automatic and click Finish to create the snapshot group repository with the default capacity settings. This is the recommended option. Go to step 5.
   • Select Manual and click Next to define the properties for the snapshot group repository. Then click Finish to continue with the snapshot image creation process. Go to step 5.
     NOTE: Use this option if you want to specify all the customizable settings for the snapshot group repository. The Manual method is considered advanced. It is recommended that you fully understand physical disk consistency and optimal physical disk configurations before proceeding with the Manual method.
     NOTE: Make sure you have either existing repositories, enough free capacity nodes, or available unconfigured capacity for the storage array on which you are creating the snapshot group repository, otherwise you cannot create the repository and an error message is displayed.
5. Click Finish.
   The system takes a copy of the associated base virtual disk. The snapshot image and its properties are displayed in the navigation tree for the associated base virtual disk.