3PAR InForm® OS 2.3.1 CLI Administrator's Manual (320-200180 Rev B, February 2010)

7.15

Reducing Volume Size with 3PAR Thin Conversion

InForm OS Version 2.3.1 3PAR InForm CLI Administrator’s Manual

7.11.1 Converting an InServ Storage Server Virtual Volume

To convert an InServ Storage Server virtual volume to a TPVV:

1 Refer to the InForm OS Concepts Guide for assessment and preparation considerations.

2 After determining to proceed with converting your volumes, prepare the volumes for

conversion to the new TPVV by removing unnecessary data. Perform clean-up tasks on the

source volume by:

◆ Emptying trash cans.

◆ Archiving unused files.

◆ Shrinking databases.

◆ Deleting temporary files.

3 Use a host application to write zeros to the allocated but unused volume space. InServ F-

Class and T-Class Storage Servers detect and discard the zeros during the volume copy

operation.

4 Convert the base volume to a TPVV by creating a physical copy of the volume. Create a

physical copy of the base volume with the

createvvcopy command. For more

information, see 8.3.1 Creating a Physical Copy on page 8.6

InServ F-Class and T-Class Storage Servers detect and discard the zeros during the volume

copy operation. The

createvvcopy command automatically enables the zero_detect

policy on the destination TPVV. After the copy operation is completed, the

zero_detect

policy is automatically disabled.

5 Use the

showvv -s command to view the size of the TPVV created in step 4. The

destination TPVV should use significantly less total reserved space, and have a smaller

volume size than the original base volume.

6 Optional. After verifying the data on the converted destination TPVV, you can use the

removevv command to remove the base volume converted in step 4.

NOTE: Converting fully-provisioned volumes to Thinly-Provisioned Virtual

Volumes (TPVVs) with the Thin Conversion feature requires an InServ F-Class or T-

Class Storage Server, a 3PAR Thin Provisioning license, and a 3PAR Thin Conversion

license. Contact your 3PAR representative for more information.