Creating snapshots using the vxsnap command
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Creating snapshots using the vxsnap command

The vxsnap command can be used to create synchronized snapshots on the Primary and Secondary. These snapshots can be very useful in recovering data to a consistent data point on the Secondary if the data is corrupt and the Primary had a disaster. This section focuses on how you can use the vxsnap command options for creating synchronized snapshots.

For any additional information about the vxsnap command and the other options available with this command, see Storage Foundation Administrator's Guide Chapter "Command Line Interface".

The following table lists the vxsnap command keywords and related descriptions.

Table: Keywords for the vxsnap command

Keywords

Description

prepare

Creates the snapshot mirrors of the volumes in the specified component. The component in consideration is the Exchange storage group. The snapshot mirrors remain attached to and synchronized with the original volumes.

Note:

Either the prepare or snapstart keyword may be used in the CLI, however prepare is recommended.

create

Creates simultaneous snapshots of all the volumes in the specified Exchange storage group component on the Primary, with simultaneous synchronized snapshots on the Secondary providing a point-in-time and up-to-date snapshot set. This parameter must be used with the sechosts parameter for creating synchronized snapshots.

reattach

Reattaches and resynchronizes an existing snapshot set to the original database volumes.

The following table lists the vxsnap command attributes.

Table: Attributes for the vxsnap command

Attributes

Description

component=<ComponentName>

Name of the component; for Exchange, this is the storage group name found in the Exchange System Manager, for example, "First Storage Group".

writer=<WriterName>

Unique ID of the VSS writer, for example, in Exchange this is, "Microsoft Exchange Writer".

source=<Volume>

Indicates the source volume for the snapshot mirror that is specified by a drive letter, drive path (mount point), or volume name of the form "device\harddiskDMVolumes\DynamicGroup\volume1". Repeat this parameter for each volume that is associated with the specified component (for example, Exchange storage group).

sechost=<sec host list>

Specifies a comma-separated list of Secondary host names on which you want to create synchronized snapshots.

harddisk=<Harddisk>

Name of the disk where the mirror is to be created, for example, harddisk2.

[/plex=<PlexName>]

Specifies the name of the mirror or plex that is to be detached. Use this parameter if there are multiple snap plexes for which you need to create snapshots.

[/DriveLetter=<DriveLetter>]

Specifies the drive letter to be assigned to the new snapshot volume.

[/DrivePath=<DrivePath>]

Specifies the drive path to be assigned to the new snapshot volume. The drive path must reference an empty local NTFS folder, which was created beforehand. The path must include the drive letter and folder to be mounted, for example, C:\DB1VOL.

[/Label=<VolLabel>]

Volume label that can be assigned to new snapshot volume.

[/Newvol=<NewVolName>]

Specifies the name for the new snapshot volume that is to be created. If no name is specified using this option, then a snapshot with the default naming format "SnapVolume01" is created. The full device path then becomes:

\Device\HarddiskDmVolumes\<DiskGroupName>\<NewVolName>

backuptype=<Backuptype>

Specifies the type of backup, either a Full or Copy. If no option is specified then Copy is the default. Copy backup creates a copy of the database and transaction logs volumes. Full backup creates a copy of the database and transaction logs volumes, runs Eseutil to check for consistency. If the copy is consistent, Full backup truncates the transaction logs.
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