https://now.netapp.com/NOW/download/software/snapdrive_win/6.3/

It includes an amazing bit of functionality in the application consistent snapshots without the need for FC/iSCSI RDMS:

• Support for performing Snapshot copy operations on virtual machine disks (VMDKs) in an NFS or VMFS datastore, which requires Virtual Storage Console 2.0.1 or later. Please check the availability of Virtual Storage Console 2.0.1 and install it before using this feature.
• Support for space reclamation when using VMDKs in an NFS datastore
• Support for DataFabric Manager caching with RBAC
• Automatic download of the storage system access control (storacl.exe) tool as part of your SnapDrive 6.3 for Windows installation

This will allow us to remove a lot of complexity, just as soon as it supports all the different applications.  There are some considerations & limitations with the VMDK support:

• SnapManager for Virtual Infrastructure 3.0.1 or later (included with Virtual Storage Console 2.0.1) must be installed
• Attached VMDKs can only be basic disks
• Dynamic disks are not supported
• Multiple partitions are not supported
• The guest OS must be able to communicate with the IP address or storage system name
• configured in the SnapManager for Virtual Infrastructure server
• VMDKs cannot have multiple mount points

For a first iteration I think it is a leap forward.

IAG – https://now.netapp.com/knowledge/docs/snapdrive/relsnap63/pdfs/admin.pdf

Release Notes – https://now.netapp.com/knowledge/docs/snapdrive/relsnap63/pdfs/rnote.pdf

prefvmx.consolidateDeleteNFSLocks  = “TRUE”

You will know whether it is working because you will see a .lck file appear in the folder containing the vmx file and snapshots should be opened and closed more quickly (try opening a ping to the VM being snapshotted and see if you lose fewer after making the change).

An essential addition to any infrastructure running both VMware & NetApp it allows guaranteed crash consistent versions of Virtual Machines to be replicated to secondary sights.

New functionality and enhancements include:

• Singe file restore (SFR)
• A single wizard for creating manual and scheduled backup jobs
• New backup job options:
  • The ability to include independent disks
  • The ability to exclude specified datastores
  • The ability to trigger prebackup or postbackup scripts per backup job (the scripts must be in the server/scripts folder on the SMVI server before you can select them in the SnapManager 2.0 for Virtual Infrastructure user interface)
• An advanced find option to search for specific backup jobs:
  • Most recent backup (default)
  • Backups within a specified time period
  • Backups that include VMware snapshots
• New restore granularity option (besides SFR):
  • VMDKs

So a lot going on here and certainly worth the wait.  You can grab a copy now from the NOW site.