7-Mode Snapshot directory and nosnapdir

It happens, especially in case of failover\giveback, that CIFS shares dedicated for NetApp snapshot directory are not any more accessible while underlying volume has nosnapdir option turn on.

A nosnapdir option is dedicated for those ones appreciating strong security on their snapshots (due to company security/audit policies). After all, this option restricting access to NetApp snapshot directory not only to clients, but also to filer itself. Our snapshots are really safe, but in case we would like to retrieve some files that names we are not aware of, we can’t use snap restore from CLI.

Let’s say we have situation with failover. When everything go back to normal, we are facing issue with snapshot CIFS share. Please find few simple steps allow to get rid of this issue.

1) Before any action it’s good to see what settings are already on place to eliminate stress at the end.

fas01> cifs shares usd_home1_snap$
Name Mount Point Description
---- ----------- -----------
usd_home1_snap$ /vol/usd_home1/.snapshot
 REGMEN\brian / Read
 REGMEN\jon / Read

Check also which options are active at the volume.

fas01> vol status usd_home1
         Volume State           Status                Options
      usd_home1 online          raid_dp, flex         nosnapdir=on
                                sis
                                64-bit
                         Volume UUID: f98de627-8a84-4035-89d5-3f83e68eab71
                Containing aggregate: 'aggr1'

2) Destruction phase..

fas01> cifs shares usd_home1_snap$
fas01> cifs shares -delete usd_home1_snap$
fas01> cifs shares usd_home1_snap$
Name         Mount Point                       Description
----         -----------                       -----------
No share is matching that name.

3) .. and act of creation.

fas01> cifs shares -add usd_home1_snap$ /vol/usd_home1/.snapshot
The share name 'usd_home1_snap$' will not be accessible by some MS-DOS workstations
Directory "/vol/usd_home1/.snapshot" does not exist.

.. but, and there is always a but. Unfortunately we have to do one more temporary adjustment.

vol options usd_home1 nosnapdir off

4) We can continue without any disruption.

fas01> cifs shares -add usd_home1_snap$ /vol/usd_home1/.snapshot
The share name 'usd_home1_snap$' will not be accessible by some MS-DOS workstations
fas01> cifs access usd_home1_snap$ REGMEN\Jon Read
1 share(s) have been successfully modified
fas01> cifs access usd_home1_snap$ REGMEN\Brian Read
1 share(s) have been successfully modified

5) Finally nosnapdir to on and last check.

fas01> vol options usd_home1 nosnapdir on
fas01> cifs shares usd_home1_snap$
Name         Mount Point                       Description
----         -----------                       -----------
usd_home1_snap$ /vol/usd_home1/.snapshot
                        everyone / Full Control
                        REGMEN\jon / Read
                        REGMEN\brian / Read

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