Cumulative History of Data without Duplication or Performance Degradation

BlueArc's snapshots create a cumulative history of data without duplication, using references to create different views of the file system. Performance does not degrade, while taking a snapshot, because only a reference is written to the file system. Files which are visible in a snapshot can not be changed or deleted, since a snapshot only shows a different view of the file system.

Space reservation

Only the changes (deltas) to a file after the last snapshot, will be written to disc. The amount of space required for snapshots, therefore depends on the amount of data which changes between snapshots.

Rule based

Administrators can create an automated schedule that can be integrated into data migration, replication and backup policies. The snapshots are rule-based, allowing the system administrator the flexibility to define snapshots based on a set of business rules. Rules-based snapshots provide entity management of the snapshots, versus a volume-based snapshot management. Rules make it possible, to create a snapshot every hour, delete a snapshot if the amount of free space gets below a pre-defined treshold or delete a snapshot because it's x days old. Also, a high degree of recovery point granularity is maintained with up to 1,024 snapshots per volume available.

Simplifies management

The system administrator can configure the system so that users can automatically recover their deleted or changed data from snapshots, without requiring the system administrator to restore client's data from tape, while preserving all permissions on the files.

Compatibility

BlueArc's snapshots are compatible with Microsoft Windows Volume Snapshot Service (VSS), which is integrated in Microsoft Windows 2003 Server and Microsoft Windows 2008 Server.