In this article, we will learn how to pause and resume replication in Dell PowerStore using PowerStore Manager. A replication session is created when a replication rule is added to the protection policy, and the protection policy is assigned to the storage resource(LUN, File System, Virtual Machine).
The Pause and Resume function can stop and start replication between the resources for a particular replication session. Pause and Resume operation can be initiated from the source or destination PowerStore appliance. Either of these operations/commands doesn’t change the direction of the replication.
Pause Replication Session in PowerStore using the Command line
The Powerstore command to pause the replication session is:
replication_session -id pause [ -async ]
- -id: Unique identifier of the replication session
- -async: Perform asynchronous operation.
The replication session can be paused when it is in the following states:
- OK
- Synchronizing
- System_Paused
- Fractured
In the event that network communication between two sites is lost, the replication session is halted solely on the local system from where the command was issued.
Pause the replication session once more to halt both sites. The following operations are not permitted while only the local replication session is paused.
- Resume
- Sync
- Planned Failover
The following operations are allowed while only the replication session on the local system is paused:
- Pause Use to place both sites into the Paused state
- Failover Use to get production access from the disaster recovery site
- Promote Use to get production access from the local cluster
- Demote Use to remove production access from the local cluster
- Delete Delete the replication session
NOTE: While the replication session is in a pause state, all the new writes will be accumulated on the production (source) array. Resuming the session will start the synchronization process and all the pending writes will then be moved to destination or DR array.
Pause Replication Session in PowerStore using the PowerStore Manager: Ste by Step
Step 1
- Login to the PowerStore Manager
- Navigate to Protection >> Replication
- Select the volume for which the replication session needs to be paused
- Click on Pause
Step 2
Click on Pause Replication
Step 3
Verify Pause Operation
Resume Replication Session in PowerStore using the Command line
The Powerstore command to resume the replication session is:
replication_session -id resume [ -async ]
- -id: Unique identifier of the replication session
- -async: Perform asynchronous operation.
Resuming the replication session initiates a synchronization cycle if the session was in the following states when the session was paused:
โข Synchronizing
โข System_Paused
โข Fractured
Resume Replication Session in PowerStore using the PowerStore Manager: Ste by Step
Step 1
- Login to the PowerStore Manager
- Navigate to Protection >> Replication
- Select the volume for which the replication session needs to be paused
- Click on Resume Replication
Step 2
Click on Resume Replication
Step 3
Verify the Resume Operation
NOTE: If there is a lot of data to be copied from the Production Array to the DR array, you may see a “synchronizing state” for a while before getting “Operating Normally“, Which means both arrays are in sync.
Alternate Track
Pause and Resume operation can also be performed from the properties window of the storage resource (LUN, FS, VM), as shown below.
- Navigate to Storage >> Volumes
- Click on the volume for which the replication session needs to be paused or resumed
- Click on Protection
- Pause and Resume the session
