Network shares with ZFS as file system have the ability (which C&CZ switches on by default) to make snapshots.

A snapshot is a read-only copy of the share, made at a specific point in time. Such snapshots allow you to find previous versions of your files. On most shares, snapshots go back 45 days. After that period they are removed.

Tip

If you remove a file, you still have the ability to retrieve - up to 45 days - different versions. After that time period the file is really gone from the share.

A snapshot is not an alternative folder to store your data.

In the sections below you can read how to access ZFS snapshots in Linux and Windows.

Linux

In your share (or home directory) you’ll see a .zfs with a snapshot directory. Listing those contents:

# ls -l .zfs/snapshot/
total 22
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4 Apr 17 12:59 cncz_20230630_043047_000
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4 Apr 17 12:59 cncz_20230630_203047_000
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4 Apr 17 12:59 cncz_20230701_043046_000
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4 Apr 17 12:59 cncz_20230701_163047_000

Each directory here has a prefix ‘cncz_’ and then the date and time of when the snapshot was made. Within each of these directories you find a copy of your share as it was at the date and time.

Windows

When right clicking on a folder and then selecting “Properties”, you’ll see the following:

Then click on the tab “Previous Versions” and it shows an overview of the (snapshots) version of the folder:

You can then browse the older versions or restore them.