[linux-lvm] Long-term snapshots possible?

[Jason Smith]

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Hi.  Like many others, I'm interested in using LVM2 as a componet for a 
Linux-based file server.

When needed, I had hoped to sacrifice disk space for long-term filesystem 
snapshots, by creating multiple snapshots and rotating them out on 
perhaps a weekly basis.  The intent is to emulate the convenience and 
power of similar snapshot features in commercial file servers.

My problem is, this does not currently look possible without a severe 
performance hit.  If a volume has, for example, five active snapshots, 
then the deltas seem to get written five times, once per snapshot volume.

Alternatively, I could use meta-snapshots, but they are not currently 
implemented, and that idea sounds klugy.

So then do the LVM developers and users recommend against multiple 
concurrent snapshots of a volume?  Should I keep hope for this great 
feature, only found in commercial file servers?

Thanks for any input.

- -- 
Jason Smith
Open Enterprise Systems
Bangkok, Thailand
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