Snapshot Overview

Snapshot is an optional feature. Snapshot allows you to create a usable image and/or a full usable copy of a defined collection of data from a specific point in time.

A snapshot set consists of a source volume and a destination volume, and the relationship between them. When the snapshot set is enabled, the destination volume becomes a logical image (snapshot copy) of the source volume. Once enabled, both the source and the destination volumes may be accessed (Read/Write) at any time. When the destination volume is accessed, its contents will reflect the data of the source volume at the particular point in time that the snapshot set was enabled, even though the content of the source volume may have changed.

Snapshot allows you to present one or more snapshot copies of the same source volume data on your system. You can use this image for application testing, backup, or in other situations where you could benefit from using a collection of data as it appeared at some previous point in time.

Snapshot provides a foundation to solve the following types of problems:

• Disaster Protection

  Snapshot provides an efficient way to identify and return to a specific set of volume data.

• Application Testing

  Snapshot allows you to perform test activities on a consistent and reusable copy of operational data while the original copy remains unaltered. Exposure to data corruption and system failure can be minimized by testing against a persistent image of real data before bringing new application changes online.

• Fast Replication

  Snapshot allows fast duplication of data without disruption of data availability.

• Time Shifting

  Snapshot allows different applications to work simultaneously on the same data and provides flexibility in shifting the processing of data by applications to a more optimal time.

• Logical Error Protection

  Snapshot allows faster and more frequent backups which translates to faster recovery from problems due to logical errors.

• File-level Data Sharing

  Snapshot allows you to present multiple copies of the same source volume to multiple machines. In other words, multiple users can have individual copies of the same data. By using Snapshot to provide file-level data sharing, you can:

  • Offload machine cycles related to sharing data between machines.

  • Reduce data traffic.

  • Increase performance.

  • Allow better scalability.

  • Increase data availability.

Related Topics:

Getting Started with Snapshot

Supported Snapshot Set Configurations.

Creating a Snapshot Group

Snapshot Overview