A Short Introduction to Snapshots in Windows Server 2021
Snapshot is a powerful feature available in Microsoft Windows operating system. In computer systems, a snapshot is basically the state of any particular system at a given time. The word is loosely coined from photography, where a snapshot is a copy of an object at a specific time. It can also refer to a certain ability provided by certain systems to record a snapshot of their user interface without the need to reboot the system.
The ability for users and system administrators to take a snapshot, restore the backup and take a snapshot on a regular (or recurring) basis is one of the most desired features of Windows and all open source operating systems like Linux OS and Solaris OS. The ability for system administrators to take a backup and restore the backup using a single command line is extremely useful when disaster strikes. Snapshot in Windows is very similar to the backup utility found in DOS. The difference is that Windows snapshot utility allows you to take a backup and then restore it as many times as needed until you have achieved the preferred working copy. You are not required to restart your system in order to take a snapshot.
As discussed previously, Windows offers different ways in which you can store and restore your storage snapshots. In Windows Server 2021, Microsoft has introduced a new feature called Microsoft Windows Server Feature called "snapshots" which enables an administrator to take a snapshot of the entire server using one command line. Windows Server 2021 also enables you to use Windows' built in 'snapshot' functionality by right clicking on your server's icon and selecting "use snapshot". Another method of taking a snapshot in Windows Server 2021 is to click and type "snapshot server".
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