About snapshot providers

Each snapshot method relies on the snapshot technology that is built into the storage subsystem where the data is stored. Examples of storage subsystem are volume manager, file system, or hardware disk array. NetBackup includes a set of Software Libraries that are called "snapshot providers." The providers enable Snapshot Manager to access the snapshot technology in the storage subsystem.

Each snapshot provider is designed for a particular subsystem. For example, the VxFS provider enables NetBackup to create snapshots of files in the Veritas File System (VxFS). The VxVM provider does the same for the data that is configured in Veritas Volume Manager volumes. The EMC CLARiiON disk array provider enables NetBackup to create hardware snapshots in the CLARiiON array.

You specify the method in the NetBackup policy. When the policy runs, the snapshot method calls the snapshot provider library. The provider then accesses the underlying commands in the storage subsystem to create the snapshot.

Figure: Simplified view of NetBackup access to snapshot technology