Data Backup and Recovery

SnapCreator deletion, retention of Snapshots

ANDREAS_JANKOWIAK
4,550 Views

Dear all,

we delete Snapshots on our primary storage via  SnapCreator version 3.6.

We have the following settings:

NTAP_SNAPSHOT_RETENTIONS=daily:7

and

NTAP_SNAPSHOT_RETENTION_AGE=7

 

We want to keep 7 days of Snapshots and min of 7 snapshots.

We have now the following system behaviour:

The system is keeping 8 snapshots, e.g from 2012/12/03 - 2012/12/10.

In the log file we get

[Mon Dec 10 02:22:31 2012] WARN: More than 7 snapshots exist, older snapshots of xxx:earch will be automatically deleted!

[Mon Dec 10 02:22:31 2012] WARN: Deleting Snapshot SAP_E-daily_20121202021500 on xxx:earch

[Mon Dec 10 02:22:32 2012] INFO: Snapshot Delete of SAP_E-daily_20121202021500 on xxx:earch completed Successfully

[Mon Dec 10 02:22:32 2012] WARN: More than 7 snapshots exist (1) but they could not be deleted because they are not older than the retention age (7 days) for

  

In my opinion this is not correct.

Or am I wrong?

Thanks for your help.

BR,

Andreas

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

ktenzer
4,550 Views

Sorry try 6.1 or 6.9 not 7.1 (I was thinking backwards).

In my opinion it should recognize that we have now 8 snapshots and should delete the oldest one from last monday.  Am I wrong?

This is exactly what SC does, it says look 8 snapshots and then it checks the oldest snapshot, the 8th and if it is older than the retention age of 7 days it will be deleted. SC is doing this but the age of the snapshot does not appear to be older than 7 days (calculated in seconds). It isnt just any snapshot that is 7 days old, it must be older than 7 days and again we calculate to seconds so it is very accurate which is why having retention above 7 like 6.1 or 6.9 instead of 7 (depending on when backups run / how long they take) is desired. Else you end up with 8 days and 8 snapshots.

Keith

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4 REPLIES 4

ktenzer
4,550 Views

Set NTAP_SNAPSHOT_RETENTION_AGE=7 to NTAP_SNAPSHOT_RETENTION_AGE=7.1

Issue is snap is happening at exact time or below so you need to increase retention age just above 7

Keith

ANDREAS_JANKOWIAK
4,550 Views

Hi Keith,

 

thanks for your response.  Mhmm at the moment I don't understand your proposal.

We have seven Snapshots Mo - Su. I want to keep 7 days and a minimum of 7 snapshots.

If a new snapshot is created lets say on Monday evening (in the second week) we have 8 days / 8 snaps in the system. After the creation of a snapshot the snapshot deletion is running...

In my opinion it should recognize that we have now 8 snapshots and should delete the oldest one from last monday.  Am I wrong?

I've changed the parameter now to 7.1, but I've the same result. There are still 8 snapshots and I get a warning "SNAPCREATOR More than 7 snapshots exist (1) but they could not be deleted because they are not older than the retention age (7.1 days) for xxxx:ssoft (Config: SAP_S Name: SAP_S Policy: daily)"

Any idea?

Thank you very much.

BR,

Andreas

ktenzer
4,551 Views

Sorry try 6.1 or 6.9 not 7.1 (I was thinking backwards).

In my opinion it should recognize that we have now 8 snapshots and should delete the oldest one from last monday.  Am I wrong?

This is exactly what SC does, it says look 8 snapshots and then it checks the oldest snapshot, the 8th and if it is older than the retention age of 7 days it will be deleted. SC is doing this but the age of the snapshot does not appear to be older than 7 days (calculated in seconds). It isnt just any snapshot that is 7 days old, it must be older than 7 days and again we calculate to seconds so it is very accurate which is why having retention above 7 like 6.1 or 6.9 instead of 7 (depending on when backups run / how long they take) is desired. Else you end up with 8 days and 8 snapshots.

Keith

ANDREAS_JANKOWIAK
4,550 Views

Hi Keith,

thanks again for your help.

This is the solution ;o)

Regards,

Andreas

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