InfoScale Enterprise

VSE+ Level Training

Enterprise Snapshot Technologies

Different snapshot methods
Method Content Captured Snapshot Location Time-to-availability Snapshot Technique
Depends on volume size
Traditional Volume Volume Full-copy
and change rate
Full-copy /
Full-sized Instant Volume Volume Instant
Copy-on-write
Instant if existing mirror
Split-mirror Instant
Split-mirror Instant Volume Volume Full-copy
is split
Full-copy /
Linked break-off
Linked break-off Volume Volume Instant
Copy-on-write

Space-optimized Instant
Space-optimized Instant Volume Cache volume Instant Copy-on-write

Snapshot
File System Snapshot File system Instant Copy-on-write
volume/memory
Storage Checkpoint
Storage Checkpoint File system FS namespace Instant Copy-on-write

FileSnap File FS namespace Instant Copy-on-write

2 InfoScale Enterprise VSE+ training

Traditional volume snapshots (InfoScale Storage)
3a Update PITC
Create PITC datavol
1 (Assign Resources)
Reattach and resynchronize:
Create and • Refresh the snapshot, or
Plex Plex New
synchronize a 01 02 Mirror • Restore the original to data in the snapshot.
new mirror.
newvol 3b Break link
snapvol Clear the
Detach the association to
mirror as a new Plex create an
snapshot New independent
Mirror
volume. volume.
Use PITC Remove the snapshot.
2 • Testing
• Backup 3c Destroy PITC
(Release Resources)

3 InfoScale Enterprise VSE+ training

Improving volume snapshots with FastResync
When FastResync is enabled, data change datavol
objects are associated with the volume.

Plex Plex New

DCO 01 02 Mirror

DCO Volume
Snap objects track volumes and
DCO DCO their snapshots. During reattach or restore
Log Plex Log Plex
operations, FastResync is used to
snapvol quickly reassociate a snapshot
DCO plex with the original volume.
New
DCO Volume Mirror
Updates to the volumes are recorded Resynchronization involves syncing only
in DCO logs and stored on disk. changed regions, rather than performing an
DCO entire atomic resynchronization.
Log Plex

4 InfoScale Enterprise VSE+ training

Full-sized instant volume snapshots (InfoScale Storage)

appvol 3a Update PITC

1 Create PITC
Plex Plex
01 02

newvol 3b Break link

snapvol
Plex
2 Use PITC ^^^
^^^

3c Destroy PITC

5 InfoScale Enterprise VSE+ training

 Split-mirror instant volume snapshots
1 Create PITC
appvol (Assign Resources)

Differences from
traditional snapshots: Plex 01 Plex 02
New 3a Update PITC
Mirror

newvol
• Can detach any mirror in ACTIVE or
SNAPDONE state. snapvol
Plex
• Can be refreshed without being
reattached. New
Mirror 3b
Break link

2 Use 3c Destroy PITC

(Release Resources)
PITC
6 InfoScale Enterprise VSE+ training
Linked break-off volume snapshots

• Are volume-level snapshots

• Can be in the same, or a different, disk group than
the original data volume
• Make use of FastResync and Data Change Objects
DCO
(DCO) to quickly reassociate snapshots with the
original volume.
• Make use of the Volume Manager’s link object

7 InfoScale Enterprise VSE+ training

Using linked break-off volume snapshots for off-host processing

Primary Host
OHP Host
sourcedg ohpdg
2
ohpdg
1

sourcedg ohpdg

3
1. Snapshot creation
2. Off-host processing
3. Snapshot reattach

8 InfoScale Enterprise VSE+ training

Space-optimized instant volume snapshots
11 Create PITC (assign resources). 21 Use PITC.
A logical PITC (snapshot) is initialized that
You can instantly use the snapshot for
employs the copy-on-write technique to
tasks such as testing and backup.
write original data to a storage cache
before the write is committed.

snapvol

^ ^ ^ 1
3a
Update PITC.
^ ^ ^
^ ^ ^ You can quickly refresh the snapshot.

cachevol* appvol
Plex
Plex
* The storage cache can be
shared among multiple
1
3b Destroy PITC (release resources).
volumes in a disk group.
Remove the snapshot.

9 InfoScale Enterprise VSE+ training

Storage checkpoints
21
Use PITC.
11 Create PITC (assign resources). Storage Mount the checkpoint as read-only
Create the storage checkpoint. checkpoint or read-write to access it.
Use checkpoints with database
Note: Map/Copy-on-write files, backup applications, or file
technique is used to track server environments to back up or
changed blocks. restore a file or a file system.
Primary
fileset

1
3a
Update PITC.
Take frequent checkpoints to enable
rollback to recent backup images.
1
3b
Destroy PITC
Coordinate checkpoints with database
states using SF database tools.
(release resources).
Remove the storage checkpoint.

10 InfoScale Enterprise VSE+ training

Default VxVM behavior with thin LUNs and SF Enterprise license

appvol

DCO Plex Plex

01 02

DCO Volume

• With FastResync, resynchronization involves applying only

DCO DCO
Log Log changed data, rather than performing an entire atomic
Plex Plex resynchronization.
• When a disk group includes thin LUNs, mirrored volumes are
automatically created with data change objects
• Updates to the original volume are recorded in DCO logs and
stored on disk.

11 InfoScale Enterprise VSE+ training

 Thank you!

Copyright © 2019 Veritas Technologies, LLC. All rights reserved. Veritas and the Veritas Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Veritas Technologies or its affiliates
in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
This document is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as advertising. All warranties relating to the information in this document, either express or
implied, are disclaimed to the maximum extent allowed by law. The information in this document is subject to change without notice.