About FileSnaps

A FileSnap is an atomic space-optimized copy of a file in the same name space, stored in the same file system. Veritas File System (VxFS) supports snapshots on file system disk layout Version 8 and later.

FileSnaps provide an ability to snapshot objects that are smaller in granularity than a file system or a volume. The ability to snapshot parts of a file system name space is required for application-based or user-based management of data stored in a file system. This is useful when a file system is shared by a set of users or applications or the data is classified into different levels of importance in the same file system.

All regular file operations are supported on the FileSnap, and VxFS does not distinguish the FileSnap in any way.