The technology behind the FastClones are file based snapshots (versioning) within the NFS datamover. We are getting to this functioality via DHSM API calls to the datamover. However, a new twist on leveraging the FastCloning methods is to use them for protection of a virtual machine. This was traditionally done via snapshots to whole datastores and really brought out scaling challenges in this method for any vendor. The versioning capability in EMC Unified arrays allows EMC customers to take snapshots at the file level thus creating file level snapshots of VMDK files that are immediately available for use (FastClone), or saved for future use (traditional snapshot but at file level).
Clinton starts programming to the VNX DHSM API and gives people deeper access to Fast/Full Clones. Which is cool because someone had to do it first in order to make the case we need to open more of these things up to end users by showing if we do they'll use it. Turn his stuff inside out and send him your feedback.
