Snapmirror Setup From Scratch NetApp Cluster Mode (Replication)

by Ravi Kumar Ankam · October 14, 2017

In this article i am going to explain you in detailed about snapmirror setup from scratch NetApp Cluster Mode (Data Replication). Most of the cases we use data replication/snapmirror to create disaster recovery protecting data against disaster (in case of source failure, we can recover from destination).

Prerequisites for Snapmirror in C-Mode NetApp

Cluster Peer relationship to intercluster
Port 11104 and 11105 should be enabled from firewall to send snapmirror data
One Intercluster LIF must be created for each cluster node
Each Intercluster LIF required one IP Address dedicated for intercluster replication
Network administrator should set MTU value (Maximum Transmission Unit) 500 is the best in most cases.
All paths on anode used for intercluster replication should have equal performance
Every intercluster LIF on every node in a cluster must be able to connect to every intercluster LIF on every node in the peer cluster.

Snapmirror related terminologies and their observations

Cluster peering: Connecting two clusters to allow replication in between them.
Intercluster logical interfaces: Logical network interfaces used for intercluster communication.
Intercluster ports: Ports dedicated to intercluster replication.

DP Volume: snapmirror destination volume

Creating Intercluster Peer Relationship

Login to ONTAP System Manager, you must have admin access to create intercluster peer relationship between different clusters

before proceeding to create peer you must ready with IP address (one IP for one node)

Peers Option

Expand by clicking on cluster name select peers. ARK-NA > Peers > Create

Creating Intercluster Peer Relationship

Enter each IP per node and type passphrase (remember passphrase), Add destination cluster Intercluster LIF IP addresses in the box and Click Create.

Intercluster LIF

Now Login to destination Filer and Do the same (In Intercluster IP add source filer IP’s)

Check Peer Status After Accepting from destination

DST-NA::> vserver peer show
 Peer Peer
Vserver Vserver State
----------- ----------- ------------
DST-NA-CIFS ARK-DST-SVM peered
ARK-DST-SVM ASIC_SVM peered
ARK-DST-SVM DST-NA-CIFS peered
3 entries were displayed.

Snapmirror Setup NetApp Cluster Mode

One way it will create peer relation and other side it will accept invitation from other cluster. Verify the status of peer should be in Ok and available.

Protection

Open Storage Virtual Machines and select one SVM, Expand SVM Click on Protection

Creating Snapmirror relationship

Creating snapmirror relation must be done from destination Filer

Select appropriate options Source Cluster name > Source SVM > Source Volume and Destination SVM and Volume. Click on Create. You can also assign Mirror schedule by clicking on drop down and select one Or create new schedule.

Completed Snapmirror Relationship Creation

Data ONTAP establishes at least 12 intercluster TCP connections for sending data. A minimum of 12 TCP connections are created for sending data.

ARK-NA::> snapmirror show
 Progress
Source Destination Mirror Relationship Total Last
Path Type Path State Status Progress Healthy Updated
----------- ---- ------------ ------- -------------- --------- ------- --------
SOURCE_SVM:ASIC_DATA
 DP ARK-DST-SVM:SMTest
 Snapmirrored
 Idle - true -

Snapmirror Limitations:

Snapshot Copies Can’t be deleted on destination Volumes
Empty junction path on destination FlexVolume is not accessible using CIFS protocol
Maximum snapshots copies on secondary volume is 251 for both mirror-vault and async-mirror types

Supported Configuration for Snapmirror types: