Data Protection
NetApp Snapshot Technology
Create and manage point-in-time file system copies with no performance impact and minimal storage consumption.
Several data storage vendors implement snapshot copies, but not all snapshot technology is created equal.
NetApp, the first company to ship high-volume open systems and "point-in-time" snapshot capability, offers unique and important advantages. NetApp® snapshots deliver more stability, scalability, recoverability, and performance than competing snapshot technologies.
NetApp leverages its superior snapshot technology as the foundation for a family of data protection solutions. These products incorporate and extend the advantages of NetApp snapshots to deliver advanced enterprise data protection.
Features and Benefits
The capabilities that set NetApp Snapshot Technology apart.
Snapshots At A Glance
With snapshots, you can:
- Make instant copies of your valuable data while applications run.
- Protect important data frequently with up to 1023 snapshots per volume.
- Unify your protection as NetApp SnapManager®, SnapMirror®, SnapProtect, and SnapRestore® software all utilize snapshots to defend your valuable data.
What is a NetApp snapshot
Point-in-time file system image
A snapshot copy is a point-in-time file system image. Low-overhead snapshots are made possible by the unique features of the WAFL® (Write Anywhere File Layout) storage virtualization technology that is part of NetApp ONTAP® software. Like a database, WAFL uses pointers to the actual data blocks on disk, but, unlike a database, WAFL does not rewrite existing blocks; it writes updated data to a new block and updates the active file system pointer.
Frozen read-only view
A NetApp snapshot simply manipulates block pointers, creating a "frozen" read-only view of a WAFL volume that lets applications access older versions of files, directory hierarchies, and/or LUNs (logical unit numbers) without special programming. Because actual data blocks aren't copied, NetApp snapshots are extremely efficient both in the time needed to create them and in storage space.
Fast snapshot creation
A NetApp snapshot takes only a few seconds to create—typically less than one second, regardless of the size of the volume or the level of activity on the NetApp storage system. After a snapshot has been created, changes to data objects are reflected in updates to the current version of the objects, as if a snapshot did not exist.
Stable and accessible
Meanwhile, the snapshot of the data remains completely stable. A NetApp snapshot incurs no performance overhead; users can comfortably store up to 1023 snapshots per WAFL volume, all of which are accessible as read-only and online versions of the data.
Easier storage administration
Frequent, low-impact backups
System administrators use NetApp snapshots to take and maintain frequent, low-impact, user-recoverable copies of files, directory hierarchies, LUNs, and/or application data. The NetApp snapshot technology vastly improves the frequency and reliability of backups, since it incurs minimal performance overhead and can be safely created on a running system.
Near-instantaneous, secure, user-managed restores
In addition, NetApp snapshots allow near-instantaneous, secure, user-managed restores. Users can directly access the snapshots to recover from accidental deletion, corruption, or modification of their data. Since the security of the file is retained in the snapshot, the restoration is both secure and simple.
Key benefits of NetApp snapshots
Stability
A NetApp snapshot is a read-only, static, and immutable copy. It enables organizations to perform consistent backups from a NetApp storage system while applications run.
Performance
Storing a NetApp snapshot on a NetApp system has no performance impact. In addition, creating and deleting NetApp snapshots has little performance impact on a properly configured system. Even if you use a competing primary storage system, NetApp storage can be used for replication, backup, and archival.
Scalability
NetApp storage supports 1023 snapshots per volume. The ability to store a large number of low-impact, frequently created snapshots increases the likelihood that the desired version of data can be successfully recovered.
User visibility and file recoverability
The high performance, scalability, and stability of NetApp snapshots provide an ideal online backup for user-driven recovery. Additional solutions allow you to copy backups to offline disk or to tape and archive them in provably immutable form for compliance or e-discovery.
Efficient storage utilization
Two snapshots taken in sequence differ only by the blocks added or changed in the time interval between the two. This block-incremental behavior limits associated storage capacity consumption. Some alternative implementations can consume storage volumes rivaling that of the active file system, raising storage capacity requirements.
Expert Guidance
Thrive with expert-led storage guidance
Get tailored advice on how NetApp Snapshot Technology fits your environment — from sizing and deployment to long-term optimization.
Technical Specifications
Exhaustive hardware and software metrics extracted directly from official documentation.
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Maximum Snapshots per Volume1023
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Snapshot Creation TimeTypically less than one second, regardless of volume size or activity level
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Snapshot TypeRead-only, static, and immutable copy
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Performance ImpactNo performance overhead
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Underlying TechnologyWAFL® (Write Anywhere File Layout) storage virtualization
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Software PlatformNetApp ONTAP®
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Snapshot AccessRead-only and online versions of the data
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Supported ObjectsFiles, directory hierarchies, LUNs (logical unit numbers), and application data
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SnapManager®Utilizes snapshots to defend valuable data
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SnapMirror®Utilizes snapshots to defend valuable data
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SnapProtectUtilizes snapshots to defend valuable data
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SnapRestore®Utilizes snapshots to defend valuable data
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Datasheets, whitepapers, case studies, and technical documentation.
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