That VM will exist in every snapshot of that volume. WAFL will determine the space usage based on the delta between snapshots. If you are doing file based backups (like NDMP) and trying to be space conscious there, you will need to rely on that mechanism to exclude that object.
The independent, persistent disk setting only prevents chaos by keeping VMware from forcing other disparate datastores to take snapshots when a VM spans more than one datastore. Just imagine if these other datastores had VM's that spanned multiple disparate datastores.
Please pardon my BlackBerry thumbmanship ...
Stetson M. Webster
Professional Services Consultant
NCIE-SAN, NCIE-B&R, SCSN-E, VCP
NetApp Professional Services - East
919.250.0052 Mobile
Stetson.Webster@netapp.com
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