In general, qtrees are similar to volumes. However, they have some key differences related to Snapshot copies and space management.
The following table compares qtrees, FlexVol volumes, and traditional volumes.
| Functionality | Qtree | FlexVol volume | Traditional volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enables organizing user data | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Enables grouping users with similar needs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts a security style | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts oplocks configuration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Can be backed up and restored as a unit using SnapMirror | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Can be backed up and restored as a unit using SnapVault | Yes | No | No |
| Can be resized | Yes (using quota limits) | Yes | No (can be expanded but cannot be reduced in size) |
| Supports Snapshot copies | No (qtree data can be extracted from volume Snapshot copies) | Yes | Yes |
| Supports quotas | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Can be cloned | No (except as part of a FlexVol volume) | Yes | No |