topic Re: View Snapshot Directory of LUN in Network and Storage Protocols

View Snapshot Directory of LUN

bsmitty23 — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:13:21 GMT

Hey Guys,

I have a LUN presented to a server, and I've started to take snapshots with snapdrive. I know there is a .snapshot directory, but I don't see it on my Windows 2003 Server when I look at the drive. I have it enabled on the filer to show the snapshot directory. I'm just wondering if this is even possible with LUN's, or do I need to create a CIFS Share to the volume to see this data? Perhaps I need to install something on my server?

Thanks

Re: View Snapshot Directory of LUN

radek_kubka — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:26:08 GMT

Hi,

.snapshot directory is at the volume level, so you can't see this from within a LUN (which is just a special file inside NetApp volume).

So, yes - .snapshot directory visibility is specific to accessing a volume via network protocol, like CIFS.

Regards,
Radek

Re: View Snapshot Directory of LUN

adamfox — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:31:35 GMT

The .snapshot directory is a WAFL thing so you won't see it inside the LUN on your windows server.

To see a snapshot on a SAN host you create a snapshot-backed LUN and map it to the server as a new disk. Then you can drag and drop elements between the disks.

-- Adam Fox

Re: View Snapshot Directory of LUN

bsmitty23 — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:42:37 GMT

Thanks guys, I just mapped a LUN to the snapshot directory, and that worked just like I want.