Why vmware snapshot when I use HP 3PAR snapshots?

[Morgenstern72]

We got our new HP 3PAR and upgraded veeam so we can use SAN snapshots.
But still vmware snapshots are made too. They exist only for a short time but did give us some problems on a big server when they could not be consolidated. Yes, this is a vmware problem but I did hope that we get ride of that when we use SAN snapshots. So why are vmware snaphots even necessary in this scenario?

Thx for your time
Joachim

[foggy]

Joachim, please review how backup from storage snapshots works, should answer your question. Thanks.

[Morgenstern72]

Thank you, but the "why" is missing. Is it necessary to gain the Changed Block Tracking information?

[marco.horstmann]

Hi Joachim,

the vmware snapshot is needed to bring guest filesystems in sync e.g. Quiese or VSS before we create a 3PAR Snapshot.

Regards
Marco

[Morgenstern72]

Thx for answering my question

[Gostev]

@Morgenstern72 actually, your own answer was more correct snapshot is essential for us to obtain CBT data, as well as actual virtual disk blocks placement data on VMFS LUN. This data enables us to backup directly from LUN snapshot.

@Marco, we do not use VMware Tools VSS, so we don't need a VM snapshot for that. We CAN use one, but this is not a default setting, and is not recommended. Remember that we have our own VSS integration.

[marco.horstmann]

oh sorry, that point I have not considered, that we have our own VSS component.