The online snapshot mode:

• Is like an online or a hot backup of the application or the database and it is suitable as a backup image.

• Is the default and the recommended snapshot mode. In this mode, the DB2 database is put into write suspend mode during the snapshot operation.

• Has the least performance impact on the application or the database.

• Allows the user to perform manual point-in-time recovery of a clone based on the snapshot or of the primary application after a restore operation.

The offline snapshot mode:

• Is like a cold backup of the application or the database and it is suitable as a backup image.

• Requires the application to be offline.

• Requires the snapshot configuration to be validated when the application is online.

• Is fastest amongst the snapshot modes.