Checkpoints are markers inserted into the Replicator Log. You can create two types of checkpoints, RVG checkpoints and RLINK checkpoints. The RVG checkpoints are created directly on the Primary RVG by using the Start Checkpoint option. The Start Checkpoint and End Checkpoint can be used to set markers and take backups of the Primary with the aim of synchronizing the Secondary. You can then ship this backup to the Secondary and apply it to the Secondary data volumes. After the backup is applied, start replication using the Synchronize from Checkpoint option by selecting the corresponding checkpoint. You can preserve a maximum of 72 checkpoints at any point-in-time.

On the Secondary however, you can create the checkpoints when pausing the Secondary. You may then want to take a backup of the Secondary volumes. This checkpoint is used to insert a marker in the Primary Replicator Log to indicate the point when replication was paused for taking the backup. Performing a Resume operation on the Secondary resumes the Secondary. If the Secondary data volumes fail at a later point-in-time, then you can apply the backup to the Secondary data volumes and then use the Restore with checkpoint option to synchronize the Secondary with all the writes that had come in after the corresponding checkpoint. Thus, the RLINK checkpoints are very useful if you need to restore the data on the Secondary volumes.