After the delta sync operation is complete, PowerProtect Data Manager ensures that the previously created snapshot is deleted. The snapshot retire operation process (Figure 14) is as follows:
- PowerProtect Data Manager 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 successful snapshot retire operation 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:
- Transparent snapshots are supported on VMFS, NFS, and vSAN datastores, as well as vVols.
- Virtual and physical RDM volumes are not supported with transparent snapshots.
Figure 14. Snapshot retire operation