3PAR InForm® OS 2.3.1 CLI Administrator's Manual (320-200180 Rev B, February 2010)

8.2
Overview
3PAR InForm CLI Administrator’s Manual InForm OS Version 2.3.1
8.1 Overview
There are two types of copies that can be created from virtual volumes: virtual copies and
physical copies.
■ A virtual copy is a snapshot of an original or base volume. A virtual copy only records the
changes to the original virtual volume.
■ A physical copy is a complete duplicate of all the data from a base volume to a destination
volume.
For more information about virtual copies, see the 3PAR InForm OS Concepts Guide.
8.2 Virtual Copies
A virtual copy is a snapshot of another virtual volume. You can make virtual copies of base
volumes, physical copies, or other virtual copies. Virtual copies are created using copy-on-write
techniques available only with the 3PAR Virtual Copy license. Unlike a physical copy which
duplicates the entire base volume, a virtual copy only records the changes to the original
volume. This allows an earlier state of the original volume to be recreated by starting with the
current state and rolling back all of the changes that have been made since the virtual copy
was created.
You can use the InForm CLI to perform the following virtual copy tasks:
■ Create
■ Promote
■ Modify
■ Remove
For additional information about virtual copies, see the 3PAR InForm OS Concepts Guide.
NOTE: Creating Thinly-Provisioned Virtual Volumes (TPVVs) requires the 3PAR
Thin Provisioning license. Creating virtual copies or snapshots requires the 3PAR
Virtual Copy license.