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Initializing a SnapMirror destination

You can initialize a SnapMirror destination by using the snapmirror initialize command.

Before you begin

If your source volumes contain directories that are accessed by CIFS clients, you should ensure that those directories are in the Unicode format before carrying out the initial SnapMirror replication of that volume.

Steps

  1. If the destination is a volume, is online, and has not been initialized before, enter the following command from the destination system:vol restrict dest_volume

    dest_volume is the destination volume.

    Note: Do not use the vol restrict command on a qtree. If you are initializing a qtree, go to Step 2.
  2. From the destination system, enter the following command:snapmirror initialize [options] [dest_system:] {dest_volume|qtree_path}
    options can be one or more of the following:
    • -k n sets the maximum transfer speed to n kilobytes per second. This option has the same effect as the kbs argument in the /etc/snapmirror.conf file.
    • -S [source_system:]{source_volume | source_qtree_path} specifies the source system and volume or qtree to copy.
      source_volume is the volume you want to copy.
      Note: The source specified must match an entry for source_volume in the /etc/snapmirror.conf file, if one exists. If an entry exists but does not match, the operation displays an error message and terminates. If there is no entry for the specified source, the command runs.
      source_qtree_path is the path to the qtree you want to copy. If the -S option is not set, the source must be specified in the /etc/snapmirror.conf file. If it is not specified, the operation displays an error message and terminates.
      Note: The source_qtree_path can be a qtree in a SnapMirror destination volume.
    • -c snapshot_name creates a Snapshot copy (with the name snapshot_name) of a qtree on the destination after the next update (so that it does not compete with any ongoing updates). SnapMirror does not lock or delete this Snapshot copy.
      Note: snapshot_name cannot be minutely.x, hourly.x, nightly.x, or weekly.x, because these names are reserved for scheduled Snapshot copies.
      Note: This option is valid only for a qtree.
    • -s snapshot_name specifies an existing source qtree Snapshot copy to be transferred. This prevents the normal action of the source creating a Snapshot copy to transfer. SnapMirror does not lock or delete this Snapshot copy.
      Note: This option is valid only for a qtree SnapMirror replication.

    dest_system is the name of the destination system. The destination can reside on the same system as the source or on another system.

    dest_volume or qtree_path specifies the destination volume or qtree. If it is associated with a local source specified in the /etc/snapmirror.conf file, SnapMirror uses that source. If the destination volume or qtree specified is not in a scheduled relationship, then the -S option must be used to provide a source.

    The snapmirror initialize command creates the destination qtree, but you must specify the destination qtree name at the end of the path as though it already existed.
    Note: If the destination qtree exists before the command runs, the command fails.
    Example
    Using the following command, SnapMirror transfers a complete copy of the source volume (vol0 on systemA) to the destination volume (vol2 on systemB):
    systemB> snapmirror initialize -S systemA:vol0 systemB:vol2
    Example
    Using the following command, SnapMirror transfers a complete copy of the qtree source (qtree4 on vol1 on systemA) to the destination qtree (qtree4bak on vol1 on systemB):
    systemB> snapmirror initialize -S systemA:/vol/vol1/qtree4 systemB:/vol/vol1/qtree4bak