Comparison of Point-in-time copy solutions


Comparison of Point-in-time copy solutions
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The following table shows a side-by-side comparison of the Storage Foundation Point in time copy solutions.

Table:

Solution	Granularity	Location of snapped data	Snapshot technique	Internal content	Exported content	Can be moved off-host	Availability
Instant full-sized snapshot	Volume	Separate volume	Copy on write/ Full copy	Changed regions >> Full volume	Read/Write volume	Yes, after synchronization	Immediate
Instant space optimized snapshot	Volume	Cache object (Separate cache volume)	Copy on write	Changed regions	Read/Write volume	No	Immediate
Linked plex break-off	Volume	Separate volume	Copy on write/ Full copy	Changed regions >> Full volume	Read/Write volume	Yes, after synchronization	Immediate
Plex break-off using vxsnap	Volume	Separate volume	Copy on write/ Full copy	Changed regions >> Full volume	Read/Write volume	Yes, after synchronization	Immediate
Traditional plex break-off using vxassist	Volume	Separate volume	Full copy	Full volume	Read/Write volume	Yes, after synchronization	After full synch- ronization
Storage Checkpoint	File system	Space within file system	Copy on write	Changed file system blocks	Read/Write file system	No	Immediate
File system snapshot	File system	Separate volume	Copy on write	Changed file system blocks	Read-only file system	No	Immediate
FileSnap	File	Space within file system	Copy on write/Lazy copy on write	Changed file system blocks	Read/Write file system	No	Immediate