Snapshots: Snapshot Directory Mode

IN THIS ARTICLE

Outlines how to configure the snapshot directory mode on your Qumulo cluster

REQUIREMENTS

• Cluster running Qumulo Core version 2.14.5 or higher
• Command line (CLI) tools installed via API & Tools tab

DETAILS

With the release of 2.14.5, you can now configure the behavior of the special .snapshot directory used to recover files when mounted over SMB that was previously only accessible at the root of each share. To configure this cluster-wide setting, you can specify one of the following snapshot directory modes via the qq command-line to assign visibility of the directory:

• Visible: a special .snapshot directory will appear in directory listings at the root of shares and be accessible by name in any directory. This is the default cluster-wide setting that is automatically enabled in 2.14.5 or above.
  
• Hidden:  the .snapshot directory will not appear in directory listings, but will still be accessible by name.
• Disabled: the .snapshot directories will not be accessible and snapshots will only be available via special services (e.g. the Restore Previous Versions dialog on Windows). SMB clients will be unable to either list or access the .snapshot directory.

With the “hidden” or “disabled” settings enabled, recursive modify operations (e.g., changing an inheritable ACL on the root of a share) will be prevented from descending into the read-only .snapshot directory and failing. 

NOTE: Configuring the "hidden" setting with Windows does not work, as it expects the .snapshots directory to be returned in the listing even if it is hidden. However, Previous Versions still work in this mode as needed. 

Snapshot Directory Mode via the QQ CLI

To configure, use the following command and include your mode of choice with the snapshot directory mode attribute.

qq smb_modify_settings --snapshot-directory-mode [visible|hidden|disabled] 

To check the current snapshot directory mode on your cluster, run the following command:

qq smb_get_settings

Example Output:

admin@cluster-3:~$ qq smb_get_settings
{
 "hide_shares_from_unauthorized_hosts": false, 
 "hide_shares_from_unauthorized_users": false, 
 "session_encryption": "NONE", 
 "snapshot_directory_mode": "VISIBLE", 
 "supported_dialects": [
 "SMB2_DIALECT_2_1", 
 "SMB2_DIALECT_3_0"
 ]
}

RESOLUTION

You should now be able to successfully configure the snapshot directory mode on your Qumulo cluster

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Snapshots: Deep Dive

Snapshots: Per-Directory Snapshots

QQ CLI: Snapshots

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