In NetApp ONTAP, when scheduled snapshots are created using a policy with a numbered naming convention (e.g., hourly.n, nightly.n), the number n serves as an age index. The most recently created snapshot is assigned the lowest number, typically 0 (e.g., nightly.0). As new snapshots are created, existing snapshots are renamed by incrementing their index number. Consequently, a higher value of n indicates that the snapshot is older relative to others in the same schedule. The oldest snapshot in the retention set will have the highest number before it is deleted.

A. newer: This is incorrect. The newest snapshot is designated with the lowest number (e.g., .0), not the highest.

C. more important: The index number n reflects the snapshot's age due to automated rotation, not its operational importance, which is a user-defined attribute.

D. least important: Similar to option C, the importance of a snapshot is not determined by its rotation index number.

1. NetApp Data ONTAP 8.2

Data Protection Online Backup and Recovery Guide for 7-Mode

Page 51: "When Data ONTAP creates a weekly

nightly

or hourly Snapshot copy

the value of n is adjusted for all the weekly

nightly

or hourly Snapshot copies. The newest Snapshot copy is always weekly.0

nightly.0

or hourly.0. The oldest is weekly.n-1

nightly.n-1

or hourly.n-1

where n is the number of Snapshot copies of that type you specified to be kept." This directly confirms that a higher n corresponds to an older snapshot.

2. NetApp ONTAP 9.7

Logical Storage Management Guide

Page 101: "When the number of Snapshot copies for a given prefix reaches the configured count

the oldest Snapshot copy with that prefix is deleted." This document for a modern ONTAP version reaffirms the principle that rotation is based on age

with the "oldest" snapshot being the one that is removed

which aligns with the concept of an incrementing age index.