Before you run the VSS Snapshot Scheduler Wizard to schedule a snapshot set for a database, you must prepare a snapshot mirror for each of the volumes in the database.
See Preparing the snapshot mirrors.
You can then use the VSS Snapshot Scheduler Wizard to schedule the initial snapshot set and to set up the schedule for keeping it refreshed.
When the scheduled snapshots occur, the snapshot mirrors are detached from the original volumes, creating separate on-host snapshot volumes as well as an XML file to store the SQL and snapshot volume metadata. The scheduled process integrates with VSS to quiesce the databases and then simultaneously snapshot the volumes in the database. This snapshot is done while the databases are online and without disrupting the database operations.
To schedule a snapshot for a selected component
Volume Name |
Displays the name of the volume. |
Snapshot Volume Label |
Displays the read-only label for the snapshot volume. |
Drive Letter |
Optionally, click a drive letter and select a new choice from the drop-down menu. The drive letters specified may not be available when the snapshot is taken. When this occurs, the snapshot operation is performed, but no drive letters are assigned. |
Plex |
Optionally, click a plex and select a new choice from the drop-down menu. |
This panel is displayed only in an environment using Symantec Storage Foundation Volume Replicator. Otherwise, you will be directly taken to the Schedule Information panel.
See Symantec Storage Foundation Volume Replicator Administrator's Guide.
Name of this schedule |
Enter a unique name for the snapshot set schedule. This name identifies the snapshot schedule if you later want to view information about the snapshot status. A default name consists of the VSS writer name, the component name and a numbered suffix that increments with each schedule. |
Description of this schedule |
Optionally, enter a description to help you identify the schedule when you view information about the snapshot status. |
Start Time |
The time of the day to begin taking snapshots. |
End Time |
The time of day to end taking snapshots. If a snapshot is in progress it is completed but a new one is not started after the end time. |
Schedule takes effect on |
The date on which the specified schedule takes effect. The default is the current date. |
Restart task every |
The interval between snapshots, in minutes. For example, if the interval is 360 minutes and you schedule a snapshot start time of 12 P.M. and an end time of 7 P.M, the snapshot occurs twice. If no interval is specified the snapshot occurs once. |
Every |
Enable the Every option to have the snapshot schedule continue to occur. Otherwise the schedule applies only for one day. Specify the number of days before restarting the snapshot schedule. For example, 1 day would mean the schedule takes effect daily, 2 days would mean every other day. |
Start On |
If you enable the Every option, specify the starting date. |
Pre Command |
Optionally, specify the full path of a command script to run before the scheduled snapshot occurs. |
Post Command |
Optionally, specify the full path of a command script to run after the snapshot is complete. |
Days of Week |
Select one or more days on one or more weeks of the month. You can click a button at the top of the column to select the entire column or a button to the left of a row to select the entire row. For example, clicking First schedules the snapshots to occur on the first occurrence of all the week days for the month. |
Days of Month |
Select one or more days of the month. You can also check the Last Day checkbox to schedule the snapshot for the last day of each month. |
Specific Dates |
Select one or more specific dates to include in or to exclude from the schedule. Excluding a date takes precedence over days scheduled on the other tabs. For example, if you schedule every Monday on the Days of Week tab, and you exclude Monday October 9 on the Specific Dates tab, the snapshots are not taken on October 9. |
If two schedules overlap for the same snapshot set, only one snapshot is taken. For example, if you select every Thursday plus the last day of the month, and the last day of the month occurs on Thursday, only one snapshot is taken on Thursday.