Which are three valid data protection solutions? (Choose three.)

NetApp ONTAP supports cascading data protection relationships to build flexible and robust solutions. The valid options represent standard, documented topologies:

Volume SnapMirror to SnapVault (D): A primary volume is replicated to a SnapMirror destination for disaster recovery (DR). This DR copy then serves as the source for a SnapVault backup. This is a "mirror-to-vault" cascade, often used to offload backup operations to the DR site.

SnapVault to Volume SnapMirror (A): A primary volume is backed up to a SnapVault destination for long-term retention. This SnapVault destination is then replicated to a SnapMirror destination, creating a DR copy of the backup data. This is a "vault-to-mirror" cascade.

SnapVault to Volume SnapMirror to Volume SnapMirror (C): This extends the "vault-to-mirror" topology by adding another SnapMirror relationship, creating a tertiary copy for further disaster recovery resilience (e.g., Backup -> DR1 -> DR2).

B. SnapVault to Volume SnapMirror to SnapVault: This configuration (Backup -> DR of Backup -> Backup of DR of Backup) is not a standard, recommended, or documented data protection cascade. It creates a complex and logically redundant protection scheme.

1. NetApp ONTAP 9 Documentation

"Data protection mirroring and vaulting cascades": This official documentation explicitly illustrates the valid cascading relationships. It shows diagrams for "Mirror-vault cascade" (Option D)

"Vault-mirror cascade" (Option A)

and "Vault-mirror-mirror cascade" (Option C). The "SnapVault to Volume SnapMirror to SnapVault" configuration (Option B) is notably absent from the list of supported standard topologies.

Source: NetApp ONTAP 9 Documentation

available on the NetApp Support Site. Search for "Data protection mirroring and vaulting cascades".

2. NetApp Technical Report TR-4015

"SnapMirror Configuration and Best Practices Guide for ONTAP 9": This report details data protection topologies. Section 3

"SnapMirror Topologies

" describes and provides use cases for fan-out

mirror-vault

and vault-mirror cascades

which correspond directly to options D and A. The extension to a further mirror (Option C) is a logical and supported continuation of the vault-mirror cascade.

Source: NetApp TR-4015

Section 3: SnapMirror Topologies.

3. NetApp ONTAP 9 Data Protection Power Guide: This guide reinforces the concepts of valid data protection relationships. It explains that a SnapMirror destination volume can be the source for a SnapVault relationship (validating Option D) and a SnapVault volume can be the source for a SnapMirror relationship (validating Option A).

Source: NetApp ONTAP 9 Data Protection Power Guide

"Cascading SnapMirror relationships" section.