Which data compression methods are available in ONTAP software?

The correct choice highlights two primary methods of data compression available in ONTAP: inline compression and post-process compression.

Inline compression refers to the technique where data is compressed as it is written to disk, which allows for immediate space savings and improves the efficiency of stored data. This method is beneficial because it reduces the amount of physical storage space used right from the outset, optimizing performance and resource utilization.

Post-process compression, on the other hand, compresses data after it has been written to disk. This can be scheduled as a background task and allows the system to manage other I/O operations without impacting the immediate write performance. Post-process compression can be advantageous in scenarios where write performance is critical and compression can be deferred.

Together, these two methods provide significant flexibility and efficiency in data storage optimization, making them essential features of ONTAP software. Both techniques are designed to help organizations manage their storage consumption proactively and effectively.