International Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyAuthors: Tharushi Fernando, Dineth Jayawardena
Abstract: In today’s rapidly evolving IT landscape, the need for efficient, secure, and resilient data storage solutions is more critical than ever before. One such solution is the Zettabyte File System (ZFS), a robust file system developed by Sun Microsystems, known for its high performance, data integrity, and advanced features like snapshots. ZFS snapshots are a powerful feature that allows system administrators to create a read-only or read-write copy of the file system at a specific point in time, enabling incremental backup and recovery strategies. This review focuses on the role of ZFS snapshots in hybrid Unix networks for incremental recovery processes. Hybrid Unix networks, which combine different Unix-based operating systems (such as Linux, BSD, and macOS), pose unique challenges in backup and recovery strategies, especially when it comes to consistency, performance, and scalability. ZFS Snapshots, due to their ability to capture changes at the block level, present a significant advantage for incremental backup processes, as they allow the recovery of data with minimal storage overhead. This review evaluates the capabilities and limitations of ZFS snapshots in these environments, comparing them with other incremental backup methods and highlighting their relevance in disaster recovery planning. Through this discussion, the review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how ZFS snapshots can streamline recovery processes and ensure data resilience across hybrid Unix systems.
