Understanding and Utilizing Snapshot Technology from QNAP

Omar Garcia

Agenda• What is Snapshot?• Snapshot on QNAP NAS• Snapshot Replica• Snapshot Vault

What is Snapshot?• A snapshot is a way to label a set of data as it existed

at a point in time– Unexpected error occurs on current system

• Revert it to the previous state that the snapshot has recorded

Misunderstanding• Snapshot is not backup• A snapshot depends on the original data set to exist

and to function– System corrupted -> Data loss

• A backup is an independent copy of your data

Snapshot on QNAP NAS• Whole Volume/LUN Snapshot• Copy-on-Write (COW)• Snapshot Clone• Snapshot Replica• Snapshot Vault

Snapshot TrendsBTRFS Snapshot

QNAP Snapshot

BTRFS File System EXT4 File System

RAID5/6Testing

Supports all RAID

Sequential read speed unstable

Stable read and write speed

Might need change the file system to use Snapshot

Easy upgrade path to use Snapshot

Might need to purchase new hardware

Supports Snapshots on current hardware

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=CoreOS-Btrfs-To-EXT4-OverlayFS

Whole Volume/LUN Snapshot

• Whole Volume／ LUN Snapshot Technology - Copy on Write for really rapid recording & restoration - True Application Awareness Snapshot technology, including open files - Dramatically improves RPO/RTO (Recovery Point/Time Objective) - Block-level Snapshots reduce overall backup storage requirements

*Currently supports 1024 snapshots in the whole device, 256 snapshots per Volume/LUN

*Need at least 4GB RAM to support QNAP Snapshot

*Currently supports devices: TS-x51+*, TS-x53A, TVS-x63, TVS-x71, TS-x79, TS-x80, TVS-ECx80 series

*: x51+ series models only support up to 256 snapshots instead of 1024. The HS-251+ does not support snapshots.

Block-Level Snapshot• Block-level Snapshot hugely increases RPO (Recovery Point Objective) and

RTO (Recovery Time Objective)

A B C

Block Level

File Level

Modified Data

C1

C1

Full duplication requires massive archive space

An “only modified data” back up both reduces storage requirements

A B C

A B

Snapshot1

Snapshot2

Easy to Use Interface• Enhanced interface reflecting hierarchical management and

greatly simplifying Snapshot management

Easy to Use Interface• Access Snapshot Manager from any web browser to restore or arrange a

Snapshot schedule

Snapshot Clone• Immediately accessible rapidly generated clones - Create backups with zero operational interference - Supports for both Volume and LUN Cloning - Create temporary clones for previewing

Demo

Rsync/RTRRSupporting Live File Backup.

*System will not auto save any file that are still under writing.

Volume Snapshot Volume

Rsync / RTRR

• True application consistency awareness - Rsync/RTRR automatically detects a NAS with Snapshot support

- Create a Snapshot before backing up a volume - In-use files included in the backup process

- Fully supported off-site Snapshot backup

Snapshot Vault Preserve Multiple NAS Snapshots

• Directly restore a Snapshot on your remote NAS, or view and copy the Snapshot data

- Preserve multiple Snapshots at the same time - Restore the Snapshot directly in the remote site - Use Rsync/RTRR or File Station to view or copy files

Snapshot VaultSnapshot Volume1

Volume1 Snapshot

Volume1 Snapshot

Extremely Efficient Remote Snapshot Replication

• Only transfer the changed data to your remote device - Set up Snapshot Replica jobs in Backup Station - Block Level Snapshot significantly reduces network bandwidth usage - Native support for whole volume and block-level iSCSI LUN - Schedule controlled Snapshotting

Volume/LUN Snapshots Snapshot Vault

Snapshot

Snapshot ReplicaSnapshot

Snapshot Agentsfor Windows/VMware

• Windows Server Snapshot agent enhances communication between NAS, Windows Server and VMware vSphere enabling:- True “Application-Consistent” Snapshots- True “File-System Consistent” Snapshots- True “Crash-Consistent” Snapshots

Snapshot Agentsfor Windows/VMware

Thank you!