Create FlashCopy Logical Drive Wizard: Additional Instructions for Windows 2000 - Basic Disks

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Use the following procedure when creating FlashCopy logical drives on a host running Windows 2000, using basic 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 (speculative change or upgrade testing). For instructions on how to reuse a disabled FlashCopy logical drive, see Reusing FlashCopy Logical Drives.

How to Create a FlashCopy Logical Drive

1

Start the storage management software.

Result: The Enterprise Management Window is displayed.

2

Launch an Subsystem Management Window, using one of the following methods:

  • Select the storage subsystem in either the Device Tree View or the Device Table, then select the Manage Device toolbar button, or the Tools >> Manage Device pull-down menu option.
  • Right-click the storage subsystem in the Device Tree View or Device Table, then select Manage Device from the right-mouse pop-up menu.
  • Double-click on a storage subsystem node in the Device Table.
  • Select the storage subsystem in either the Device Tree View or the Device Table, then press Enter.

Result: The Subsystem Management Window is opened in a separate window.

3

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:

  • Create FlashCopy Logical Drive Wizard, accessed using an Subsystem Management Window. For more information, see Creating a FlashCopy Logical Drive Using the FlashCopy Logical Drive Wizard.
  • Create a FlashCopy logical drive using either the Script Editor or a command line interface on the host operating system. Type the following command and press Enter:

    create FlashCopylogicaldrive

    For command reference information on creating a FlashCopy logical drive, refer to "Using the create Command" in the Enterprise Management Window online help.

4

Disable the FlashCopy logical drive. FlashCopy logical drives may be disabled using one of the following methods:

  • Select the Logical Drive >> FlashCopy >> Disable pull-down menu option in the Subsystem Management Window. For more information, see Disabling a FlashCopy Logical Drive.
  • Disable a FlashCopy logical drive using either the Script Editor or a command line interface on the host operating system. Type the following command and press Enter:

    disableFlashCopy logical drive

    For command reference-specific information on disabling a FlashCopy logical drive, see "Using the disableFlashCopy Command" in the Enterprise Management Window online help.

5

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:

  • Storage Partitioning Wizard. The Storage Partitioning Wizard helps you to quickly define a single storage partition. It guides you through the major steps required to specify which host will access a logical drive and the associated Logical Unit Numbers (LUNs). For more information, see Using the Storage Partitioning Wizard.
  • Create a logical drive-to-LUN mapping using either the Script Editor or a command line interface on the host operating system. Type the following command and press Enter:

    create mapping logical drive

    For command reference-specific information on creating a logical drive-to-LUN mapping, see "Using the create Command" in the Enterprise Management Window online help.

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 Explorer) to ensure all I/O activity has been stopped.

6

Run the SMsnapassist utility to flush all the write buffers from the new disk drive.

At a 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.

7

In the storage management software, re-create the FlashCopy logical drive using one of the following methods:

  • Select the Logical Drive >> FlashCopy >> Re-create pull-down menu option in the Subsystem Management Window. For more information see Re-creating a FlashCopy Logical Drive.
  • Re-create a FlashCopy logical drive using either the Script Editor or a command line interface on the host operating system. Type the following command and press Enter:

    recreateFlashCopy logical drive

    For command reference-specific information on recreating a FlashCopy logical drive, see "Using the recreateFlashCopy Command" in the Enterprise Management Window online help.

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).

8

Run the hot_add utility (or operating system-specific utility) or reboot the host where the FlashCopy will be used. This will ensure that the host operating system recognizes the FlashCopy logical drive.

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. For information on which operating systems support the hot_add utility, refer to the Storage Manager Software Installation Guide.

9

Run the SMdevices utility to associate the LUN with a host operating system device, and to ensure that the FlashCopy logical drive is recognized by the host.

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.

10

Open Disk Management using one of the following methods:

  • Select the Start >> Settings >> Control Panel pull-down menu option, double-click on the Administrative Tools icon, and then double-click Computer Management. In the console tree under Storage, select Disk Management.
  • Select the Start >> Run option, then type the following and press Enter: compmgmt.msc
  • At a host prompt, type the following, then press Enter:

    compmgmt.msc

    In the console tree under Storage, select Disk Management.

Result: Disk Management is displayed with a graphical representation of all the physical disks connected to the host and their associated partitions.

11

In the Disk Management dialog, locate the disk and logical drive definition that represents the FlashCopy logical drive you re-created and ensure that a new drive letter has automatically been assigned.

12

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.

13

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 or Deleting a Logical Drive. For command reference information on disabling or deleting a FlashCopy logical drive, refer to the Enterprise Management Window online help.

Reusing FlashCopy Logical Drives

Typically, once a FlashCopy logical drive has been created it is 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.

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 Explorer) to ensure all I/O activity has been stopped.

1

Run the SMsnapassist utility on the host where the FlashCopy logical drive is mounted, to flush all the write buffers from the new disk 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 FlashCopy logical drive.

Result: The write buffers for the disk drive are flushed.

2

Disable the FlashCopy logical drive. FlashCopy logical drives may be disabled using one of the following methods:

  • Select the Logical Drive >> FlashCopy >> Disable pull-down menu option in the Subsystem Management Window. For more information, see Disabling a FlashCopy Logical Drive.
  • Disable a FlashCopy logical drive using either the Script Editor or a command line interface on the host operating system. Type the following command then press Enter:

    disableFlashCopy logical drive

    For command reference-specific information on disabling a FlashCopy logical drive, see "Using the disableFlashCopy Command" in the Enterprise Management Window online help.

3

Run the SMsnapassist 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 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.

4

In the storage management software, re-create the FlashCopy logical drive using one of the following methods:

  • Select the Logical Drive >> FlashCopy >> Re-create pull-down menu option in the Subsystem Management Window. For more information see Re-creating a FlashCopy Logical Drive.
  • Recreate a FlashCopy logical drive using either the Script Editor or a command line interface on the host operating system. Type the following command and press Enter:

    recreateFlashCopy logical drive

    For command reference-specific information on recreating a FlashCopy logical drive, see "Using the recreateFlashCopy Command" in the Enterprise Management Window online help.

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).

5

Use the FlashCopy logical drive in conjunction with your backup application (or with another application).

6

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.

Related Topics

Create FlashCopy Logical Drive Wizard: Additional Instructions

Learn About Creating FlashCopy Logical Drives

Creating a FlashCopy Logical Drive Using the FlashCopy Logical Drive Wizard