vfs_shadow_copy 8 Samba System Administration tools &doc.version;
vfs_shadow_copy Expose snapshots to Windows clients as shadow copies.
`vfs objects = shadow_copy`

## DESCRIPTION

This VFS module is part of the samba 7 suite.

The `vfs_shadow_copy` VFS module functionality that is similar to Microsoft Shadow Copy services. When setup properly, this module allows Microsoft Shadow Copy clients to browse "shadow copies" on Samba shares.

This module is stackable.

## CONFIGURATION

`vfs_shadow_copy` relies on a filesystem snapshot implementation. Many common filesystems have native support for this.

Filesystem snapshots must be mounted on specially named directories in order to be recognized by `vfs_shadow_copy`. The snapshot mount points must be immediate children of a the directory being shared.

The snapshot naming convention is @GMT-YYYY.MM.DD-hh.mm.ss, where:

- `YYYY` is the 4 digit year

- `MM` is the 2 digit month

- `DD` is the 2 digit day

- `hh` is the 2 digit hour

- `mm` is the 2 digit minute

- `ss` is the 2 digit second.

The `vfs_shadow_copy` snapshot naming convention can be produced with the following date 1 command:

    	TZ=GMT date +@GMT-%Y.%m.%d-%H.%M.%S

## EXAMPLES

Add shadow copy support to user home directories:

    	shadow_copy

## CAVEATS

This is not a backup, archival, or version control solution.

With Samba or Windows servers, `vfs_shadow_copy` is designed to be an end-user tool only. It does not replace or enhance your backup and archival solutions and should in no way be considered as such. Additionally, if you need version control, implement a version control system.

## VERSION

This man page is part of version &doc.version; of the Samba suite.

## AUTHOR

The original Samba software and related utilities were created by Andrew Tridgell. Samba is now developed by the Samba Team as an Open Source project similar to the way the Linux kernel is developed.