It is possible to view the data while replication is active by performing one of the following operations:

a) Mirroring the replicated volume
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1. From the secondary, right-click on the replicated volume

2. Select Mirror > Add.  

3. Choose the disk onto the mirror will be created and select OK. The synchronization process of the new mirror will begin. Note: A disk or disks will need to be added to the Diskgroup that are equal to or greater than the size of the volume that will be mirrored. 

 

4. When the initial synchronization of the new mirror has completed, right-click on the new mirror and select Mirror > Break.

 

 

 

5. Choose the new mirror, select a drive letter and click OK. This will break the mirror, leaving two separate copies. The new copy may be explored, while the original copy is still involved in replication and is unaffected by the operation. The provides a point-in-time copy of the original volume at the time the Mirror > Break operation is performed. 

 

In this example, Harddisk4 was added and has the mirrored copy, so it will break off this volume and the existing volume will remain intact without any outage to the original volume (Harddisk3). Volume names are labled as Plex, so -01 is the original, and -02 is the mirrored copy. 

 

Note: Once the mirror is broken, the new copy is no longer kept up-to-date with the original Volume, so this would need to be deleted and a new mirror created, and once the resynch occurs, it will be up-to-date to the point where it is broken off. 

 

b) Creating a snapshot of the replicated volume (Best Option):

1. From the secondary, right-click on the replicated volume. Again, it is necessary to have a disk or disks that are equal to or greater than the the volume size.

2. Select Snap > Snap Prepare.

 

The creation of a snap mirror will begin.

3. When the initial synchronization of the snap mirror has completed, right-click on the new snap mirror and select Snap > Snap Shot.

 

4. Select a drive letter and complete the wizard. This will create a snapshot, leaving two separate copies of the volume. The new copy may be explored, while the original copy is still involved in replication and is unaffected by the operation.

Note: After the snapshot has been created, it can be merged back with the original volume by performing a "Snap Back," or it can be permanently disassociated from the original volume by performing a "Snap Clear."