Existing snapshot handling options (VMware)
This option specifies the action that NetBackup takes when a snapshot is discovered before NetBackup creates a new snapshot for the virtual machine backup. After it creates a snapshot, NetBackup usually deletes the snapshot when the backup completes. If snapshots are not automatically deleted (whether created by NetBackup or not), the performance of the virtual machine may eventually decline.
Undeleted snapshots can cause restore failures due to lack of disk space. If the virtual machine was configured on multiple datastores and a leftover snapshot existed on the virtual machine when it was backed up, note: NetBackup tries to restore all .vmdk files to the snapshot datastore. As a result, the datastore may not have enough space for the .vmdk files, and the restore fails. (For a successful restore, you can restore the virtual machine to an alternate location. Use the Storage Destination dialog in the Virtual Machine Recovery dialogs to select a datastore for the .vmdk files.)
Table: Existing snapshot handling: Options
Option | Description |
|---|---|
Continue backup | NetBackup ignores any existing virtual machine snapshots (including snapshots previously created by NetBackup) and proceeds with snapshot creation and the backup. |
Abort if any snapshot(s) exist | If any snapshot exists on the virtual machine, NetBackup aborts the job for that virtual machine only. |
Remove NetBackup snapshot(s) and continue backup | If a virtual machine snapshot exists that a NetBackup backup previously created: NetBackup removes the old snapshot, creates an updated snapshot, and proceeds with the virtual machine backup. |
Abort if NetBackup snapshot(s) exist | If a virtual machine snapshot exists that a NetBackup backup previously created, NetBackup aborts the job for that virtual machine only. (This option is the default.) |