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NetApp SnapMirror

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description NetApp SnapMirror Overview

SnapMirror is a foundational, storage-array-based replication technology. It operates at the block storage level, providing synchronous or asynchronous mirroring between NetApp storage arrays. This is the preferred method when the replication target must maintain the exact block-level consistency of the source storage, making it critical for high-transaction databases.

help NetApp SnapMirror FAQ

Can NetApp SnapMirror be used to replicate data between ONTAP and non-NetApp storage systems?

SnapMirror is a proprietary technology explicitly designed to replicate data between NetApp ONTAP storage arrays. To replicate data to different vendor hardware, you would need to use a different protocol like SnapMirror to Tape or a third-party replication tool.

What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous SnapMirror?

Asynchronous SnapMirror periodically takes a snapshot and transfers it to the destination array, which minimizes bandwidth usage. Synchronous SnapMirror, on the other hand, writes data to both the primary and secondary arrays simultaneously to ensure a zero Recovery Point Objective (RPO).

Does SnapMirror require network bandwidth to be provisioned carefully?

Yes, because SnapMirror operates at the block storage level, it can consume substantial network resources during initial baseline transfers and update cycles. Network administrators must ensure adequate bandwidth exists between the source and destination NetApp arrays to prevent bottlenecks.

How does SnapMirror handle failed data transfers?

If a network interruption occurs, SnapMirror is designed to automatically resume the transfer from the point of failure once connectivity is restored. This is tracked via a checkpointing system, ensuring that large transfers do not have to restart from the beginning.

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