File System backup vs Snapshot backup¶
- Filesystem Backup (FSB)
A backup method that works with almost any storage type, including NFS, local disks, or cloud storage that doesn’t support snapshots. Useful when snapshots aren’t available or when fine-grained control over files is needed.
- Snapshot Backup
A fast, efficient way to back up entire volumes that is tightly integrated with the storage provider. Ideal for cloud-native environments where CSI snapshots are supported.
Note
Filesystem backups are NOT truly cross-platform because they capture files and directories in a way that depends on the underlying storage system. If you back up on AWS, for example, restoring to Azure might not work smoothly.
Snapshot backups are also NOT cross-platform by default because they rely on storage provider technology (like AWS EBS snapshots or Azure Disk snapshots). However, if you use a snapshot with a data mover, you can transfer it between cloud providers, making it more portable.
Advantages and disadvantages¶
Feature |
Filesystem Backup |
Snapshot Backup |
---|---|---|
Speed |
Slower – Reads and transfers all files, making large backups time-consuming. |
Faster – Works at the storage level, quickly capturing an entire volume. |
Efficiency |
More storage needed – Stores files individually, which may increase backup size. |
More efficient – Uses incremental snapshots, reducing backup size and time. |
Compatibility |
Works with almost any storage – Supports NFS, local storage, cloud object storage, etc. |
Requires CSI drivers or storage provider support – Only works if the storage supports snapshots. |
Portability |
Not fully cross-platform – Can be tricky to restore across different storage systems. |
Cross-platform with data mover – Can be transferred between cloud providers with extra tools. |
Granular restore |
Can restore individual files – Useful if you only need specific files. |
Restores entire volume – No easy way to get individual files without additional tools. |
When to use each backup type¶
Use Filesystem Backup if:
Your storage provider doesn’t support snapshots (e.g., NFS, EFS, AzureFile).
You need to restore specific files instead of the whole volume.
You want a backup that works with different storage backends (but not necessarily cross-platform).
Use Snapshot Backup if:
You want a fast and efficient backup for large persistent volumes.
Your storage supports CSI snapshots or cloud-native snapshots (e.g., AWS EBS, Azure Disks).
You need incremental backups to reduce storage costs.