Reusing FlashCopy Logical Drives: Additional Information for Windows – Dynamic Disks

Typically, when a has been created it is disabled until a new point-in-time image of the same is required. Use this procedure to create a new point-in-time image of the same base logical drive.

  1. Stop all activity to the base logical drive (or data transfer suspended) before starting this procedure. Stopping all I/O activity ensures that an accurate point-in-time image of the base logical drive is captured. Close all applications (including Windows Explorer) to make sure that all I/O activity has been stopped.
  2. To flush all the write buffers from the new disk drive, run the utility on the host where the flashcopy logical drive is mounted. At the host prompt, type this command, and press Enter:

    SMrepassist -f <filesystem-identifier>

    In this command, <filesystem-identifier> is the disk drive letter assigned to the flashcopy logical drive.

    The write buffers for the disk drive are flushed.
  3. Disable the flashcopy logical drive by using one of these methods:

    disableSnapshot volume
    

    For command reference information about disabling a flashcopy logical drive, refer to the online help topics in the Enterprise Management Window.

  4. Run the SMrepassist utility on the host where the base logical drive is mounted to flush all the write buffers from the new disk drive. At the host prompt, type this command, and press Enter:

    SMrepassist -f <filesystem-identifier>

    The write buffers for the disk drive are flushed.

  5. In the storage management software, re-create the flashcopy logical drive by using one of these methods:

    recreateSnapshot volume 
    

    For command reference information about re-creating a flashcopy logical drive, refer to the online help topics in the Enterprise Management Window.

  6. If I/O activity to the base logical drive was stopped or data transfer was suspended, resume I/O activity to the base logical drive at this time (or re-enable data transfer).
  7. Go to the indicated step depending on the version of the Windows Server 2003 operating system that you are using:
  8. If you are using the 64-bit version of the Windows Server 2003 operating system, perform these steps:
    1. Locate the disk and logical drive definition that represents the flashcopy logical drive.
      The flashcopy logical drive LUNs appear with the disk type Dynamic, Offline.
    2. Select the flashcopy logical drive disk, right-click, and select Reactivate Disk.
      The disk status returns to Dynamic, Online, and the file system on the flashcopy logical drive becomes visible to the host machine.
    3. Go to step 9.
  9. Use the flashcopy logical drive with your backup application (or another application).
  10. After the flashcopy logical drive is no longer required, disable the flashcopy logical drive.

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

    For more information, refer to the Disabling a FlashCopy Logical Drive online help topic and the Re-creating a FlashCopy Logical Drive online help topic.

    For command reference information about disabling and re-creating a flashcopy logical drive, refer to the online help topics in the Enterprise Management Window.

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