'\" t
.\"     Title: vfs_shadow_copy
.\"    Author: [see the "AUTHOR" section]
.\" Generator: DocBook XSL Stylesheets vsnapshot <http://docbook.sf.net/>
.\"      Date: 05/28/2026
.\"    Manual: System Administration tools
.\"    Source: Samba 4.24.3
.\"  Language: English
.\"
.TH "VFS_SHADOW_COPY" "8" "05/28/2026" "Samba 4\&.24\&.3" "System Administration tools"
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.SH "NAME"
vfs_shadow_copy \- Expose snapshots to Windows clients as shadow copies\&.
.SH "SYNOPSIS"
.HP \w'\ 'u
vfs objects = shadow_copy
.SH "DESCRIPTION"
.PP
This VFS module is part of the
\fBsamba\fR(7)
suite\&.
.PP
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\&.
.PP
This module is stackable\&.
.SH "CONFIGURATION"
.PP
vfs_shadow_copy
relies on a filesystem snapshot implementation\&. Many common filesystems have native support for this\&.
.PP
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 the directory being shared\&.
.PP
The snapshot naming convention is @GMT\-YYYY\&.MM\&.DD\-hh\&.mm\&.ss, where:
.RS
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}
YYYY
is the 4 digit year
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}
MM
is the 2 digit month
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}
DD
is the 2 digit day
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}
hh
is the 2 digit hour
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}
mm
is the 2 digit minute
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}
ss
is the 2 digit second\&.
.RE
.sp
.RE
.PP
The
vfs_shadow_copy
snapshot naming convention can be produced with the following
\fBdate\fR(1)
command:
.sp
.if n \{\
.RS 4
.\}
.nf
	TZ=GMT date +@GMT\-%Y\&.%m\&.%d\-%H\&.%M\&.%S
.fi
.if n \{\
.RE
.\}
.SH "EXAMPLES"
.PP
Add shadow copy support to user home directories:
.sp
.if n \{\
.RS 4
.\}
.nf
        \fI[homes]\fR
	\m[blue]\fBvfs objects = shadow_copy\fR\m[]
.fi
.if n \{\
.RE
.\}
.SH "CAVEATS"
.PP
This is not a backup, archival, or version control solution\&.
.PP
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\&.
.SH "VERSION"
.PP
This man page is part of version 4\&.24\&.3 of the Samba suite\&.
.SH "AUTHOR"
.PP
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\&.
