I'd like to move the focus of this topic from 'mystery snapshots' to the 'configuration backup process' running in cDOT. As a result of researching the above issue I've come upon another fact: I want to tune down the system configuration process and don't see a way to do it.
Important note: this question is somewhat specific to ONTAP Simulators because I don't think a normal system running on FAS hardware would have this same issue. But I'm running qty=2 1-node-cluster VMs (cdot 8.3.2 & 9.0) on the same ESXi hypervisor (quad-core Xeon, 3.3Ghz, on a single-drive SATA datastore). Sometimess I run qty=3 cDOT VMs. So when the sys-config-backup kicks off, I have 2 or 3 ONTAPs backup up (hammering) their configurations on vol0's on that single ESX with a single disk.
FWIW: The .tmp.bk snapshots (orig topic of this discussion) have disappeared after I resolved the aggr0 space issue I previously had. But now I've been watching the 'system configuration backup' settings and files more closely. Everything appears to be running fine with the sys-conf-backup process, HOWEVER, I'm now more aware of sys-conf-backup and think it is hosing me every morning at 10:15am. It probably hoses me at midnight, 2am and 6pm too but I'm not around then :-). Below are some harvest/grapha graphs over 24-hours showing sys-conf-backup process hammering both vol0s and it seems to take (when they compete) 1.5-hours to complete.
I'm not complaining ... just looking for a way to control better. I've played with the 'system config backup' commands but all I see is a way to control the how many of the backup files are retained of each type ... and I can't say 0 (zero) to turn it off complelety for type (-numbackups1|2|3). What I thought I would do is either chnage the Schedule-1 from '8hour' to 'none' or create a new schedule completely for Schedule-1 that didn't fire off during the day.
The only thing I can think of now is to change the system-wide schedule called '8hour' to not include the 10am setting ... but I don't think it's wise to change a system-wide schedule just for this one thing as I don't know what else might be using it.
Am I missing anything? other suggestions? (Note: I even explored advanced and diag mode but still do not see a way)
PS: Harvest/Graphana graphs showing both my aggr0s getting hammerer for 1.5 hours. (the 00:10 is the daily, the 2:15am, 10:15am and 18:15pm are the 8hour 'ly ... I'd like to eliminate the 8hour 'ly ones. Any suggestions?
