Use the following procedure when creating FlashCopy logical drives on a host running Windows NT, using regular disks. Failure to complete the steps listed may result in an inaccurate point-in-time image of the base logical drive.
For a process overview of the FlashCopy logical drive creation process, refer to Create FlashCopy Logical Drive Wizard: Process Overview - Windows 2000 and Windows NT.
FlashCopy logical drives may be reused (for frequent or nightly backups), or may be created for one-time usage (for speculative change or upgrade testing). For instructions on how to reuse a disabled FlashCopy logical drive, see Reusing FlashCopy Logical Drives.
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Start the storage management software. Result: The Enterprise Management Window is displayed. |
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Launch an Subsystem Management Window, using one of the following methods:
Result: The Subsystem Management Window is opened in a separate window. |
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Within the Logical View of the Subsystem Management Window, select a standard logical drive and create a FlashCopy logical drive using one of the following methods:
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Disable the FlashCopy logical drive. FlashCopy logical drives may be disabled using one of the following methods:
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Assign a logical drive-to-LUN mapping between the FlashCopy logical drive and the host that will access the FlashCopy logical drive. Logical Drive-to-LUN mappings can be defined using one of the following methods:
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Important: All I/O activity to the base logical drive should be stopped at this point (or data transfer suspended). This will ensure that an accurate point-in-time image of the base logical drive is captured. Close all applications (including Windows NT Explorer) to ensure all I/O activity has been stopped. |
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Run the SMsnapassist Note: Running this utility is only required when the FlashCopy logical drive is mapped to the same host as the base logical drive. At the host prompt, type the following, then press Enter: SMsnapassist -f <filesystem-identifier> where <filesystem-identifier> is the drive letter assigned to the base logical drive. Example: If the new disk drive (for the base logical drive) was assigned drive letter "E" using the Create Partition Wizard , you would enter the command: SMsnapassist -f e and press Enter. Result: The write buffers for the disk drive are flushed. |
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In the storage management software, re-create the FlashCopy logical drive using one of the following methods:
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Important: 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). |
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Run the hot_add Once logical drives have been created and logical drive-to-LUN mappings have been defined, the hot_add utility is run to ensure that the operating system is aware of the newly created logical drives, without having to reboot the host. |
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Run the SMdevices Once logical drives have been created and logical drive-to-LUN mappings have been defined, the SMdevices utility is run to ensure that the logical drive name and the operating system device name (assigned by the operating system) correlate. |
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Run the SMsnapassist utility to resolve duplicate signatures and partition table information. At the host prompt, type the following, then press Enter: SMsnapassist -r Result: The utility reports back that a new signature has been written for the FlashCopy logical drive. |
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Open the Disk Administrator
Result: The Disk Administrator window is displayed, with a graphical representation of all the physical disks connected to the host and their associated partitions. |
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Locate the disk that represents the FlashCopy logical drive in the Disk Administrator window. |
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Select the disk, and select the Tools >> Assign Drive Letter pull-down menu option. Result: The Assign Drive Letter dialog is displayed. |
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Choose a drive letter to be assigned (if not automatically assigned) and select OK. Result: The disk drive representing the FlashCopy logical drive is assigned a new drive letter. You are not required to partition or format this drive. |
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Use the FlashCopy logical drive in conjunction with your backup application (reusing a FlashCopy logical drive), or for speculative change and upgrade testing (one-time usage). For information on how to reuse a disabled FlashCopy logical drive, see Reusing FlashCopy Logical Drives. |
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Once the FlashCopy logical drive is no longer required, disable or delete 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 takes less time than creating a new FlashCopy logical drive, and will stop any reduction in performance that may occur if the FlashCopy logical drive remains available. For more information, see Disabling a FlashCopy Logical Drive and Deleting a Logical Drive. For command reference information on disabling or deleting a FlashCopy logical drive, refer to the Enterprise Management Window online help. |
Typically, once a FlashCopy logical drive is created, it would be disabled until a new point-in-time image of the same base logical drive is required. To create a new point-in-time image of the same base logical drive, complete the following steps.
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Important: All I/O activity to the base logical drive should be stopped at this point (or data transfer suspended). This will ensure that an accurate point-in-time image of the base logical drive is captured. Close all applications (including Windows NT Explorer) to ensure all I/O activity has been stopped. |
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Run the SMsnapassist At the host prompt, type the following, then press Enter: SMsnapassist -f <filesystem-identifier> where <filesystem-identifier> is the drive letter assigned to the FlashCopy logical drive. Result: The write buffers for the disk drive are flushed. |
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Disable the FlashCopy logical drive. FlashCopy logical drives may be disabled using one of the following methods:
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Run the SMsnapassist At the host prompt, type the following, then press Enter: SMsnapassist -f <filesystem-identifier> where <filesystem-identifier> is the drive letter assigned to the base logical drive. Result: The write buffers for the disk drive are flushed. |
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In the storage management software, re-create the FlashCopy logical drive using one of the following methods:
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Important: 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). |
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Run the SMsnapassist utility to resolve duplicate signatures and partition table information. At the host prompt, type the following, then press Enter: SMsnapassist -r Result: The utility reports back that a new signature has been written for the FlashCopy logical drive. |
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Use the FlashCopy logical drive in conjunction with your backup application (or with another application). |
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Once 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 takes less time than creating a new FlashCopy logical drive, and will stop any reduction in performance that may occur if the FlashCopy logical drive remains available. For more information, see Disabling a FlashCopy Logical Drive and Recreating a FlashCopy Logical Drive. For command reference information on disabling and recreating a FlashCopy logical drive, refer to the Enterprise Management Window online help. |
Create FlashCopy Logical Drive Wizard: Additional Instructions
Learn About Creating FlashCopy Logical Drives
Creating a FlashCopy Logical Drive Using the FlashCopy Logical Drive Wizard