auto

NetBackup selects a snapshot method when the backup starts. If necessary, NetBackup selects a different method for each item in the Backup Selections list.

FlashSnap

For mirror snapshots on alternate clients, with the VxVM FlashSnap feature. This method is for clients on Solaris, HP, AIX, Linux, and Windows. UNIX clients must be at VxVM 3.2 or later. Linux and AIX clients must be at VxVM 4.0 or later. Windows clients must be at VxVM 3.1 or later, with all the latest VxVM service packs and updates.

FlashSnap is based on the VxVM disk group split and join technology.

Hyper-V

For snapshots of Hyper-V virtual machines.

Refer to the NetBackup for Hyper-V Administrator's guide.

NAS_Snapshot

For copy-on-write snapshots of client data that resides on an NDMP host. Requires NetBackup for NDMP software. Further information is available on requirements and configuration details.

nbu_snap

For copy-on-write snapshots of UFS or Veritas VxFS file systems. For Solaris clients only. nbu_snap is not supported in clustered file systems.

This method requires a raw partition that is designated for cache.

Or refer to the NetBackup Snapshot Client Administrator's Guide for details.

VMware

For snapshots of VMware virtual machines.

Refer to the NetBackup for VMware Administrator's guide

VSP

VSP is currently deprecated. VSP is for snapshots of open and active files on NetBackup pre-7.0 Windows clients. For 7.0 clients in a policy that is configured with VSP, NetBackup automatically uses VSS instead of VSP.

For more information on this method (Veritas Volume Snapshot Provider), refer to the NetBackup Administrator's Guide for Windows, Volume I.

You can use VSP without Snapshot Client. In some cases, however, such as when the Busy File Timeout has expired, no snapshot is created. The backup job then may continue without backing up the busy file. If you use VSP with Snapshot Client, the backup successfully creates a snapshot of all files or the backup job fails.

VSS

VSS uses the Volume Shadow Copy Service of Windows 2003, and supports Instant Recovery. VSS is for local backup or alternate client backup.

For the most up-to-date list of Windows operating systems and disk arrays supported by this method, see the NetBackup Snapshot Client Configuration document, at the following URL:

http://entsupport.symantec.com/docs/288300

For alternate client backup, the client data must reside on: either a disk array such as EMC, HP, or Hitachi with snapshot capability, or a Veritas Storage Foundation for Windows 4.1 or later volume with snapshots enabled. VSS supports file system backup of a disk partition (such as E:\) and backup of databases.

VSS-based snapshot methods offer a general interface to Windows Shadow Copy Services. VSS selects the actual snapshot method depending on which snapshot provider is configured on the client. For instance, if the data resides on an EMC CLARiiON array, and the array administrator configured the array and its snapshot capability: the Volume Shadow Copy Service selects the appropriate CLARiiON VSS hardware provider to take the snapshot.

VVR

For alternate client backups of a replicated VxVM volume. For clients on Solaris, HP, Linux, AIX.

Requires VxVM 3.2 or later with the Veritas Volume Replicator license. Linux and AIX clients require VxVM 4.0 or later.

VxFS_Checkpoint

For copy-on-write snapshots of clients on Solaris, HP, AIX, or Linux. The FlashBackup policy type does not support this method.

Requires the Storage Checkpoint feature of VxFS 3.4 or later. HP requires VxFS 3.5 or later. Linux and AIX clients require VxFS 4.0 or later.

Note that VxFS_Checkpoint requires the Snapshot Client license and the Veritas File System license with the Storage Checkpoints feature. Without both licenses, the copy-on-write snapshot (Storage Checkpoint) cannot be opened and the backup fails.

VxFS_Snapshot

For copy-on-write snapshots of Solaris or HP clients on the local network (not off-host), for FlashBackup policies only. This method requires VxFS 3.4 (Solaris) or VxFS 3.3.2 (HP) or later. This method also requires a designated cache.

Or see the NetBackup Snapshot Client Administrator's Guide.

Note that all files in the Backup Selections list must reside in the same file system.

vxvm

For any of the following types of snapshots with data configured over Volume Manager volumes, for clients on Solaris, HP, AIX, Linux, or Windows. Linux and AIX clients require VxVM 4.0 or later.

For "third-mirror" snapshots (VxVM 3.1 or later).

For full-sized instant snapshots (VxVM 4.0).

For space-optimized instant snapshots (VxVM 4.0).