Data Domain: How to delete MTree on Data Domain systems

Summary: This article explains how to delete MTree on Data Domain systems.

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Instructions

To delete an MTree on Data Domain systems, it can be done from either CLI or from System Manager. The user role required to perform this operation is Admin. 

Deleting an MTree from CLI:      
  1. List the MTrees present on the Data Domain system using command "mtree list".      
Example:     
sysadmin# sysadmin@dd670# mtree list
Name                                    Pre-Comp (GiB)   Status   Tenant-Unit
-------------------------------------   --------------   ------   -----------
/data/col1/backup                                  0.0   RW       -
/data/col1/Default                                 0.0   RW       -
/data/col1/test                                    0.0   RW       -
-------------------------------------   --------------   ------   -----------
 D    : Deleted
 Q    : Quota Defined
 RO   : Read Only
 RW   : Read Write
 RD   : Replication Destination
 RLGE : Retention-Lock Governance Enabled
 RLGD : Retention-Lock Governance Disabled
 RLCE : Retention-Lock Compliance Enabled
sysadmin@dd670#
  1. Delete the MTree using command "mtree delete mtree_path".     
Example:     
sysadmin# mtree delete /data/col1/test

Deleting an MTree will destroy all data in the MTree.
If there are any NFS exports, CIFS shares, VTL tapes, DDBOOST storage-units, Replication Contexts or Physical Capacity Measurements configured for this MTree, they need to be manually removed/edited. Do you wish to continue?
        Are you sure? (yes|no) [no]: yes

ok, proceeding.

MTree "/data/col1/test" deleted successfully.
sysadmin#

Deleting an MTree from Data Domain system manager:      
  1. Navigate through Data Management > MTrees. 
  2. Select the MTree to delete
  3. Click on the 'Delete' Option
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Note: When trying to delete a certain MTree on Data Domain, the below error may be seen:      
 
**** MTree "/data/col1/stu_test" contains ddboost storage unit, cannot be deleted.

This error means the MTree is associated with a ddboost storage-unit. In the case of the above error, delete the corresponding ddboost storage-unit which will change the MTree's state to deleted (D). 

Deleting storage-unit from CLI:      
  1. List ddboost storage-units using the command "ddboost storage-unit show".       
Example:
sysadmin# ddboost storage-unit show
Name                         Pre-Comp (GiB)   Status   User            Report Physical   Tenant-Unit
                                                                          Size (MiB)
--------------------------   --------------   ------   -------------   ---------------   -----------
networker                               0.0   RW       ddboostxxxxxx                 -   -
stu_test                                0.0   RW       ddboostxxxxxx                 -   -
--------------------------   --------------   ------   -------------   ---------------   -----------
 D    : Deleted
 Q    : Quota Defined
 RO   : Read Only
 RW   : Read Write
 RD   : Replication Destination
  1. Delete the storage-unit using the command "ddboost storage-unit delete storage-unit_name"       
Example:      
sysadmin# ddboost storage-unit delete stu_test

The 'ddboost storage-unit delete' command will delete all files in the storage-unit.
        Are you sure? (yes|no) [no]: yes

ok, proceeding.

Storage-unit "stu_test" deleted.
sysadmin# mtree list
Name                                    Pre-Comp (GiB)   Status   Tenant-Unit
-------------------------------------   --------------   ------   -----------
/data/col1/backup                                  0.0   RW       -
/data/col1/Default                                 0.0   RW       -
/data/col1/networker                               0.0   RW       -
/data/col1/stu_test                                0.0   D        -
-------------------------------------   --------------   ------   -----------

Deleting storage-unit from Data Domain system manager:      
  1. Navigate through Protocols > DD Boost > STORAGE UNITS
  2. Select the Storage-Unit that you want to delete
  3. Click on Delete (Trash icon)
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This deletes a specified storage unit, its contents, and any DD Boost associations. The deleted storage-unit retains its old name and is shown as deleted in the MTree list. 
 
Note: Manually remove (expire) corresponding catalog entries from the backup application.

MTrees marked for deletion remain in the file system until the filesys clean command is run.

Additional Information

The 'mtree delete' command option is not allowed on Retention Lock Governance or Retention Lock Compliance MTrees unless they are empty.
Revert the marked-for-deletion state of that MTree by running the mtree undelete command.

When an MTree is removed from the file system, snapshots associated with that MTree are also deleted from the /data/col1/mtree-name/.snapshot/ directory.

Affected Products

Data Domain

Products

Data Domain
Article Properties
Article Number: 000020666
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 29 Jul 2025
Version:  4
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