topic Re: How to Preserve a SnapCenter Snapshot in Data Protection

How to Preserve a SnapCenter Snapshot

TMADOCTHOMAS — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 09:54:41 GMT

I need to preserve the oldest snapshot on a volume for about a week before it rolls off automatically tonight. The snapshot is for a datastore volume and was created by the SnapCenter plug-in for VMware. What is the best way to preserve the snapshot? Can it be done by simply renaming it so SnapCenter doesn't see it as one of it's own snapshots?

Re: How to Preserve a SnapCenter Snapshot

Ontapforrum — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 17:18:43 GMT

I think I have done it in the past for a similar situation. Renaming should work. However, I just found this kb, that suggests - setting the expiry date. I never used it before but looks like it's better than re-naming. I think you should try setting the expiry date a week ahead. I no longer have a snapcenter setup to simulate it but you could tell us if that works.

How to preserve a Snapshot from manual or auto deletion
https://kb.netapp.com/Advice_and_Troubleshooting/Data_Protection_and_Security/SnapMirror/How_to_preserve_one_particular_SnapVault_Snapshot_from_manual_auto-deletion

Re: How to Preserve a SnapCenter Snapshot

TMADOCTHOMAS — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 18:14:07 GMT

Thanks @Ontapforrum ! I saw that but wasn't sure if it would apply with an application like SnapCenter. It might but am not sure. I noticed the current snapshots generated by SnapCenter all show "-" for the expiry date which is why I wonder.

I sent this inquiry to my rep as well and he came up a with a KB that answers the question! I'll mark this as a solution in case anyone looks for this.

https://kb.netapp.com/Advice_and_Troubleshooting/Data_Storage_Software/ONTAP_OS/Can_a_snapshot_be_taken_out_of_the_Snapshot_Policy_Rotation%3F