Replication Seeding

If you want to replicate a snapshot collection that would take too long over a wide area network (WAN) connection, replication seeding provides an efficient method for creating a snapshot collection to use as a temporary replica. You may need to do this when you first add a replication partner, or if a replication partner needs to be re-initialized due to an accidental deletion or array replacement.

The seeding process replicates a snapshot collection to a temporary array (called the seed) over a high-speed local network (shown as 4 in the image). This third array is transported to the replication site and that same snapshot collection is then replicated from the third array to the designated replication array (shown as 6 in the image).

Once this is completed, the seed array is removed from the system and replications between the upstream replication partner and the downstream replication partner are enabled. From this point forward, the upstream and downstream arrays only need to transfer changed data (shown as 5 in the image).

1. Upstream array
2. Seed (temporary) array
3. Downstream array
4. Replication from the upstream to the seed array (one-time)
5. Replication from the upstream to the downstream array (ongoing)
6. Replication from the seed to the downstream array (one-time)

For details about replication seeding, contact support or your sales representative.