When projects and shares are replicated to a target, the data is stored in a replication package. Replication packages can be used for disk-to-disk backup, failover, testing purposes, or mounted from a client for read-only access.
Use any of the following methods to access data within a replication package:
Export a replication package - When you export a selected replication package, the exported shares contain the data from the most recently completed replication update. After exporting the shares, you can access any specific snapshot data for any of the shares by navigating to the .zfs/snapshot directory in the share's root directory. The .zfs directory is normally invisible, but can be accessed by specifying a subdirectory or file name explicitly, as described in Accessing a Hidden Filesystem Snapshot Directory. For information about changing the snapshot visibility property, see Making a Filesystem Snapshot Directory Visible BUI, CLI.
Clone a replication package - Creating a clone of a replication package uses the most recent data received from the source appliance. Cloning converts a replication package into a new project allowing read-write access to all data in the project. The cloned project must have a unique name, mountpoint, and SMB resource name that does not conflict with any existing project. For more information, see Cloning a Replication Package BUI, CLI.
Clone shares from a replication package - Individual share snapshots, created prior to the most recent replication, can be cloned from a replication package. Cloning an individual snapshot from a replication package provides read-write access to data as it existed on the source appliance at the time a snapshot was created. For more information, see Cloning a Snapshot BUI, CLI.
Sever a replication package - The sever operation converts a replication package to a new project, allowing read-write access to data within the project. The replication connection between the source appliance and target appliance is severed after this operation. Note that the new project must have a unique name, mountpoint, and SMB resource name that does not conflict with any existing projects. For more information, see Severing a Replication Package BUI, CLI.
Reverse a replication package - Reverse replication converts a replication package into a new project, allowing read-write access to data within the project. The replication connection is preserved and a new replication action is created that allows replication back to the original source appliance. For more information, see Reverse the Direction of Replication.
Additional tasks related to replication packages include: