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Using The Virtual Disk Copy Feature
This chapter describes how the Virtual Disk Copy feature works, lists the script commands for Virtual Disk
Copy, and explains how to use the commands to create and run Virtual Disk Copy. Additional information
about Virtual Disk Copy and related definitions is available in the online help, the Deployment Guide, the
MD Storage Manager online help, and the Administrator's Guide.
NOTE: If you ordered Premium Features for Virtual Disk Copy, you received a Premium Features
Activation card shipped in the same box as your Dell PowerVault MD storage array. Follow the
directions on the card to obtain a key file and to enable the feature. For more information, see
"Premium Feature — Virtual Disk Copy" in the Owner's Manual.
The Virtual Disk Copy feature enables you to copy data from one virtual disk (the source) to another
virtual disk (the target) in a single storage array. You can use this feature to perform the following
functions:
• Back up data.
• Copy data from disk groups that use smaller capacity physical disks to disk groups using larger
capacity physical disks.
• Restore snapshot virtual disk data to the associated source virtual disk.
• Copy data from a thin virtual disk to a standard virtual disk on the same storage array.
NOTE: You cannot copy data from a standard virtual disk to a thin virtual disk.
About Virtual Disk Copy
Starting a virtual disk copy operation does the following to your target copy disks:
• Overwrites all existing data on the target virtual disk.
• Makes the target virtual disk read-only to hosts.
• Fails all snapshot (legacy) virtual disks or snapshot image virtual disks associated with the target virtual
disk.
If you have data stored on a virtual disk you specify as a virtual disk copy target, make sure you no longer
need the data or have it backed up before beginning virtual disk copy.
Virtual Disk Copy Types
The Virtual Disk Copy script commands create one of following types of virtual disk copies:
• A virtual disk copy using a snapshot (legacy), which suspends I/O to the source virtual disk while the
copy is in progress. The source virtual disk will not be available during the copy operation. This is
called an offline virtual disk copy.
• A virtual disk copy using a point-in-time copy of any virtual disk, while still allowing access to the
source virtual disk when the copy is in progress. This is called an online virtual disk copy.
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