Documentation: https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E23824_01/html/821-1448/gavvx.html

ZFS snapshots can be a fast and easy way to perform backups.

Napp-IT has a commercial (Pro) Replication module available that performs ZFS snapshots and sends them to another ZFS server.

Snapshots are automatically mounted under /$MOUNTPOINT/.zfs/snapshot/$SNAPSHOTNAME. You can use the CLI to copy data you want to recover to another location.

Example with a (three level) nested ZFS filesystem showing an NFS storage repository containing VHDs:

/toplevel/midlevel/bottomlevel/.zfs/snapshot/job-name-job-ID_year.month.day.hour.min.sec/nfs_SR_ID/

As with snapshots, creating a clone is nearly instantaneous and initially consumes no additional disk space. Clones can only be created from snapshots.

If you don't want to muck with the .zfs hidden folder, you could also:

1. Clone the snapshot
2. Copy out your files/folders that need recovering
3. Destroy the clone