Exchanging Volume Names

When used with the -x option, the metarename command exchanges the names of an existing layered volume with one of its subdevices. This exchange can occur between a mirror and one of its submirrors, or a transactional volume and its master device.

You must use the command line to exchange volume names. This functionality is currently unavailable in the Solaris Volume Manager GUI. However, you can rename a volume with either the command line or the GUI.

The metarename -x command can make it easier to mirror or unmirror an existing volume, and to create or remove a transactional volume of an existing volume.

• You cannot rename a volume that is currently in use. This includes volumes that are used as mounted file systems, as swap, or as active storage for applications or databases. Thus, before you use the metarename command, stop all access to the volume being renamed. For example, unmount a mounted file system.

• You cannot exchange volumes in a failed state, or volumes using a hot spare replacement.

• An exchange can only take place between volumes with a direct parent-child relationship. You could not, for example, directly exchange a stripe in a mirror that is a master device with the transactional volume.

• You must use the -f (force) flag when exchanging members of a transactional device.

• You cannot exchange (or rename) a logging device. The workaround is to either detach the logging device, rename it, then reattach it to the transactional device; or detach the logging device and attach another logging device of the desired name.

• Only volumes can be exchanged. You cannot exchange slices or hot spares.