- After the delta sync operation is complete, PowerProtect Data Manager ensures that the snapshot that was created before is deleted (see Figure 9). PowerProtect Data Manager now calls on vCenter to invoke the retire snapshot API towards the relevant ESXi host.
- The ESXi host relays this information to all the relevant VAIO Filters to delete all the bitmaps and copy-on-write data residue left from the snapshot creation and delta sync stages.
- The ESXi host sends an acknowledgment of the snapshot-retire success to vCenter and PowerProtect Data Manager.
- PowerProtect Data Manager records the backup copy set information in the PowerProtect Data Manager Catalog and informs the search node (if any) to start gathering metadata for indexing.
Note the following:
- Transparent snapshots are supported on VMFS, NFS, and vSAN Datastores. VMware vSphere Virtual Volumes (vVols) are not supported.
- Encrypted VMDKs are not supported with transparent snapshots.
- Virtual and physical RDM modes are not supported with transparent snapshots.
Figure 14. Snapshot retire operation