Creating a FlexClone file or FlexClone LUN

You can create a FlexClone file or a FlexClone LUN of a parent file or LUN inside a FlexVol volume by using the clone start command. You can also perform a sub-file or sub-LUN cloning operation.

1. To create a FlexClone file or FlexClone LUN or to perform a sub-file or sub-LUN cloning operation, choose one of actions from the following table.

   If you want to create...	Then...
   A FlexClone file or FlexClone LUN of a parent file or LUN inside a FlexVol volume.	Enter the following command:clone start src_path dest_path [-n] src_path—Source path in the /vol/volname/... format dest_path—Destination path in the /vol/volname/... format –n— This option prevented creation of a temporary Snapshot copy of a FlexVol volume during the cloning operation in earlier Data ONTAP versions. This option is supported to maintain consistency with earlier Data ONTAP versions.
   A sub-file or sub-LUN clone.	Enter the following command: clone start src_path [dest_path] [-n] -r src_fbn:dest_fbn:fbn_cnt ... src_path—Source path in the /vol/volname/... format dest_path—Destination path in the /vol/volname/... format –n— This option prevented creation of a temporary Snapshot copy of a FlexVol volume during the cloning operation in earlier versions of Data ONTAP. This option is supported to maintain consistency with earlier Data ONTAP versions. –r—Specifies block ranges. src_fbn—Starting fbn of the source block range. For a LUN, the fbn is considered as LBA (Logical block address). dest_fbn—Starting fbn of the destination block range. fbn_cnt—Number of blocks to be cloned.
   A FlexClone file or FlexClone LUN of a parent file or LUN inside a FlexVol volume from a Snapshot copy	Enter the following command:clone start src_path dest_path[-s <snapshot_name>] src_path—Source path in the /vol/volname/... format dest_path—Destination path in the /vol/volname/... format. snapshot_name—Source Snapshot copy You should use the -s option only when you want to create a clone from a Snapshot copy. In addition, you should provide the destination path when you use the -s option. Otherwise, the command fails and an error message is displayed.
   A sub-file or sub-LUN clone from a Snapshot copy.	Enter the following command: clone start src_path [dest_path] [-s <snapshot_name>] -r src_fbn:dest_fbn:fbn_cnt ... src_path—Source path in the /vol/volname/... format dest_path—Destination path in the /vol/volname/... format. snapshot_name—Source Snapshot copy You should use the -s option only when you want to create a clone from a Snapshot copy. In addition, you should provide the destination path when you use the -s option. Otherwise, the command fails and an error message is displayed. –r—Specifies block ranges. src_fbn—Starting fbn of the source block range. For a LUN, the fbn is considered as LBA (Logical block address). dest_fbn—Starting fbn of the destination block range. fbn_cnt—Number of blocks to be cloned.

   Note: You cannot use the clone start command to create a FlexClone LUN from a LUN clone.