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Data Domain - Break and Resync Directory Replication

Summary: How to perform a replication resynchronization (resync) procedure on a system configured for directory replication. Common reasons to perform a resynchronization: * Cleaning not recovering disk space on the source system. * Directory Replication lag exceeds the data retention period. ...

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Instructions

Break and Resync Replication


PURPOSE

This article lists steps on how to perform a replication resynchronization (resync) procedure on a system configured for directory/pool replication. For a more in-depth explanation of the purpose of a resync procedure, read here Data Domain - Replication Resync Explanation.

Here is a list of some reasons a break and resync procedure may need to be performed:

 


APPLIES TO

  • All Data Domain models configured for Directory/Pool Replication
  • All Software Releases


SOLUTION

The steps listed in this solution assume a basic replication configuration where a source Data Domain is configured to write to a destination Data Domain. Replication configurations can be much more complex consisting of bi-directional replication and chained configurations involving multiple systems. If a context is broken, the partner system must also have the related context broken. The break and resynchronization procedure requires that the file system to be temporarily unavailable for all systems involved.

Note: Do not disable any unrelated replication contexts as they will recover automatically when the file system is re-enabled.

This procedure can be performed using the Enterprise Manager UI (Option 1) OR the command-line (Option 2).
The EM process is simpler, and can be completed with a few clicks.

 


Break the existing replication and resync:
 

1. Enterprise Manager option:

a. Break existing replication

This removes the context from both the source and destination DDRs.

i. Go to the Enterprise Manager page for the source Data Domain, then choose "Replication".
ii. Select the context to break.
iii. Select "Delete Pair"
iv. Click "OK".


b. Resync the context

This adds the context back to both the source and destination DDRs and start the resync process. The resync process can between several hours and several days, depending on the size of the system and current load factors.

i. From the same Replication tab in the Enterprise Manager, click on "More", then choose "Start Resync".
ii. Select the Replication Type
iii. Select the source and destination host names
iv. Path out the replicated directory or mtree on both the source and destination DDRs
v. Click "OK"
 

-- or --

2. Command-line manual break and resync option:

a. Copy and save the existing replication configuration information from the source and destination systems.

At the command prompt on both the source and destination type:
 
# replication show config

CTX   Source                                                   Destination                                      Connection Host and Port               Enabled
---   ------------------------------------------------------   ----------------------------------------------   ------------------------------------   -------
1     dir://test.datadomain.com/backup/monthly                 dir://test2.datadomain.com/backup/monthlytest    test.datadomain.com      (default)     yes
2     dir://test.datadomain.com/backup/weekly                  dir://test2.datadomain.com/backup/weeklytest     test.datadomain.com      (default)     yes
---   ------------------------------------------------------   ----------------------------------------------   ------------------------------------   -------

 

Copy both outputs temporarily to a text editor (such as notepad) and label each section appropriately. This information will be needed when recreating the replication contexts. Note context numbers if targeting specific contexts.


b. Verify the status of both systems. It should show idle.

(Ensure that backups have been paused (or any other systems using the Data Domain) and cleaning is not running).

# system show stats

07/15 15:04:40

INTERVAL: 5 secs
--------------------------------------------------------------
CPU  FS    FS   Net MB/s    Disk KiB/s      Disk NVRAM  Repl
busy ops/s proc in    out   read    write   busy KiB/s  KB/s
---- ----- ---- ----- ----- ------- ------- ---- ------ ------
  0%     0   0%     0     0       0       0   0%      0      0

The system should show as idle.


c. Verify the cleaning status of both systems. It should show finished.
 
# filesys clean status
Cleaning finished at 2012/04/10 06:01:30

 

Cleaning should indicate finished.


d. Disable the filesystem on the source system, if systems are running DDOS version 4.7 and below. (Bug 6995 for more information). This is an optional step for DDOS version 4.8 and above.

# filesys disable


e. Break the replication on the source system.

# replication break rctx://<context number>

Example: # replication break rctx://2
Note: Some situations (for example Data Domain - Replication Context is Disabled Due to Potential NVRAM Loss) may require all contexts to be broken.

All contexts can be broken with the following command:
 
# replication break context all

f. Disable the filesystem on the destination system, if systems are running DDOS version 4.7 and below. (Bug 6995 for more information). This is an optional step for DDOS version 4.8 and above.
 
# filesys disable

g. Break related contexts on the destination system.

If the destination system is the sole replication partner, follow the same procedure in the previous step (step 2).

If the destination system is configured with contexts involving other systems, break only the shared contexts using following command:
 
# replication break rctx://<context number>

h. Enable the file system on the source and destination systems.

At the command prompt on the source and destination systems type:
 
# filesys enable


i. Recreate replication contexts on source and destination system. Use the previously saved configuration information to rebuild the deleted replication contexts.
 

 # replication add source dir://<source directory> destination dir://<destination directory>

 

Tip: Copy the command from the source clipboard and paste it in the destination clipboard as same command is used on both source and destination systems.


j. Resynchronize the replication contexts from only source system using following command:
 
 # replication resync rctx://<context number>

 

Note: This command is run on the source system only.


k. Confirm that replication resynchronization is working.
 
Here is a list of commands that show the status of the replication resynchronization:
 
 # replication watch rctx://<context number>

# replication show performance [all | rctx://<context number>]

# iostat 2 (CTRL+C to quit)

 

Note: The iostat command displays a wider system view. The display window may need to be maximized to prevent the text from wrapping and distorting the output.

If the source directory is empty, the resynchronization will occur quickly, and may not be represented in the output. In addition, if no data is being written to the source directory throughput numbers will be low (or non-existent).


Note: From DDOS version 5.1, Pool replication is not available, it changed to Mtree Replication.



If your problem persists after performing the steps in this article, contact your contracted support provider or Create a service request and Upload a Support Bundle (SUB) Data Domain: How to collect/upload a support bundle (SUB) from a Data Domain Restorer (DDR)


    REFERENCES



     

    Additional Information

     

      Affected Products

      Data Domain

      Products

      Data Domain
      Article Properties
      Article Number: 000012071
      Article Type: How To
      Last Modified: 28 Oct 2024
      Version:  7
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