The Advanced Copy functions allow the disk storage system to carry out high-speed copying operations itself, with no need to draw on server CPU resources. With Advanced Copy functions, at any point in time a business data volume can be copied to a separate copy volume, quickly and within the disk storage system. Once the copy is complete, the copy volume can be separated from the business volume ensuring no further updates to the business volume are applied to the copy volume. This allows the copy volume data to be backed up to a tape device, as a point in time copy of the business data, while normal operations continue.

The Advanced Copy functions offer different copy methods: "Mirror Suspend", "Background Copy" and "Copy-on-Write" that are implemented as "Equivalent Copy (EC)", "One Point Copy (OPC)", and "SnapOPC+" functions.
There is also a QuickOPC function, which only copies data that has been updated since the previous update, while the SnapOPC+ function also enables generation management.

A function that always creates a synchronized copy of a business data volume on a copy volume (Mirroring method).
The business volume and copy volume are synchronized but can be separated at any required time (mirror suspend). The copy volume can then be backed up to a tape device while business operations continue on the business volume.
Suspend/Resume functions can be used to re-establish the mirror by copying only updated data since the mirror was suspended.

A function that creates a copy of the business data volume at any point in time (Background Copy).
Data on the business volume is copied logically to a copy volume, quickly, as and when required.
The copy volume can be used for backup operation, to a tape device, without waiting for physical copy completion, while business operations can continue on the business volume.

A function that creates a copy of all the business data volume and subsequently only copies updated data (Background Copy). This suits large database operation where backup times must be reduced.

A function that creates a copy of the data prior to it being updated (Copy-on-Write).
As requires less copy volume capacity compared with full backup, SnapOPC is ideal for backup operations for systems with relatively few updates such as file servers.

Like SnapOPC, SnapOPC+ only copies the data prior to it being updated on the business volume. However, it enables generation management of the updated data (Copy-on-Write).
As SnapOPC+ doesn't actually store duplicate data but manages it as history information (unlike SnapOPC), disk-based generation backup can be achieved using less copy volume capacity.

• Non-disruptive backup operations using Advanced Copy functions not only reduce backup processing times but also ensure backup data is always up-to-date.