Which statement correctly differentiates a snapshot from a clone?

• A. A writable copy that shares data blocks with the source.
• B. A point-in-time copy of a volume or file system used for backup/restore without affecting live data.
• C. Copying data to a secondary array or site.
• D. Allocating storage on demand as data is written.

Answer: (B)

A snapshot is a point-in-time image of a volume or file system that you can use for backup or restore without impacting the live data. It doesn’t duplicate all data upfront; instead, it preserves the state at the moment the snapshot is taken, while the original continues to be writable. If the source changes after the snapshot, the most important part is that the snapshot still represents how the data looked at the moment it was created, which makes restoration reliable and fast.

A clone, on the other hand, is a writable copy that starts by sharing storage with the source and then diverges as data is written. It’s intended to become an independent environment for testing or development, not a fixed point-in-time backup.

Replication to another site and thin provisioning describe different concepts—replication means copying data to a remote location for DR or availability, while thin provisioning allocates storage on demand as data is written, and neither centers on capturing a moment in time for backup purposes.