SMVI snapshots and Restoring Files

[prutter]

Hello all,

Have an issue with restoring files froma  VMDK that was snapshotted with SMVI/VSC.  The .SNAPSHOT folder is not visable to vcenter so i have to copy files out so that i can mount the file.  Is there a way to change it so that the .snapshot folder is visable and then put it back to normal.  We are not licensed for Flexclone or Snapdive so pulling single files off of a VM is like pulling teeth (and i'm no dentist).  Any easy way to get these files extracted so i can mount them??  Any help is appreciated.  Thanks

[vmroyale · Accepted solution]

Hello.

This is a bit old, but see if it helps.

http://communities.vmware.com/people/vmroyale/blog/2009/04/03/nfs-file-level-restores-including-snap...

Good Luck!

[prutter]

Looks like that might help out.  Thanks.

[prutter]

Hello vmroyale,

Have  aquick question about this blog.  Not sure if it's due to the newer version of Ubuntu but i still can't see the .snapshot folder when i mount teh datastore.  I can get it mounted and see all the folders and files but still can't see the .snapshot folder to restore files.  Any thoughts?

[vmroyale]

Exactly how are you mounting the datastore? That folder is hidden, so that could be the problem.

[prutter]

I understand teh folder is hidden.  I can see the.snapshot folder in teh ubuntu box but when i try to mount teh VMDK it downs't work.  I thought that ubuntu box was there to be able to mount those vmdk that are in the snapshot folder?  Was i incorrect?  I am trying to stop from having to move those files from the .snapshot folder to another lcation since they are so large.  Takes too long to copy plus it puts added stress on teh CPU during a time that i can't have that.  Any thoughts??  Thanksfor the reply!!

[stgepopp]

Hello Prutter,

you are using a NetApp with Data ONTAP? Right?

You can make the folder .snapshot visible via NetApp Tools. Have a look to Volume Options

But keep in mind: the folder is read-only. Therefor you need to copy out the files to a different directory on storage side or for instance with Datastore Browser. Hence we have vDisks with many GB that's a time consuming task. On NetApp side you can use a command called "snap restore ...". This is an instant recovery/revert of a volume or individual file from a storage snapshot.

ATTENTION: Don't do that on important data volumes. YOU WILL REVERT THE VOLUME IF WRONG USED

regards

Erich