Skip to main content
NetApp Knowledge Base

Snapshot operation not allowed due to clones backed by snapshots

  1. Last updated
    May 27, 2025
  2. Save as PDF
Views:
5,341
Visibility:
Public
Votes:
1
Category:
ontap-9
Specialty:
CORE
Last Updated:
5/27/2025, 11:53:36 AM

CONTAP-302033

Applies to

  • ONTAP 9
  • File based snap restore
  • Snapshot based NetApp software (Snap Creator (CommVault), SnapManagers, SnapCenter)
  • 3rd party backup applications using single file snapshot restore integration with ONTAP
  • VMWare Native Snapshots (not classic  redo-log based VMWare snapshots)

Issue

A manual or scheduled Snapshot operation is failing with the following error:

1/5/2019 09:05:00 Cluster1-01 ERROR wafl.snap.create.skip.reason: vol01 <UUID>: Skipping creation of hourly.<time> Snapshot copy (Snapshot operation not allowed due to clones backed by snapshots. Try again after sometime.).

If the affected volume is source of a Snapmirror relationship, a manual or schedule snapmirror update can fail with last-transfer-error showing:

Last Transfer Error: Failed to create Snapshot copy <snapmirror.snapshotname> on volume <svm>:<volume>. (Failed to create Snapshot copy <snapmirror.snapshotname> on volume <svm_uuid>:<volume_name>. (Volume has clones backed by snapshots))

 

 

 

Sign in to view the entire content of this KB article.

New to NetApp?

Learn more about our award-winning Support

NetApp provides no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or reliability or serviceability of any information or recommendations provided in this publication or with respect to any results that may be obtained by the use of the information or observance of any recommendations provided herein. The information in this document is distributed AS IS and the use of this information or the implementation of any recommendations or techniques herein is a customer's responsibility and depends on the customer's ability to evaluate and integrate them into the customer's operational environment. This document and the information contained herein may be used solely in connection with the NetApp products discussed in this document.