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Replication Tasks

  3 minute read.

TrueNAS replication allows users to create one-time or regularly scheduled snapshots of data stored in pools, datasets or zvols on their TrueNAS system as a way to back up stored data. When properly configured and scheduled, replication takes regular snapshots of storage pools or datasets and saves them in the destination location either on the same system or a different system.

Local replication occurs on the same TrueNAS system using different pools or datasets. Remote replication can occur between your TrueNAS system and another TrueNAS system, or with some other remote server you want to use to store your replicated data. Local and remote replication can involve encrypted pools or datasets.

Setting Up a Simple Replication Task Overview

This section provides a simple overview of setting up a replication task regardless of the type of replication, local or remote. It also covers the related steps to take prior to configuring a replication task.

Prerequisites

Before setting up a replication task, you must configure an admin user with the Home Directory set to something other than /var/empty.

Allow all sudo commands with no password must be selected to enable SSH+NETCAT remote replication.

Remote replication requires setting up an SSH connection in TrueNAS before creating a remote replication task.

Verify the SSH service settings to ensure you have Root with Password, Log in as Admin with Password, and Allow Password Authentication selected to enable these capabilities. Incorrect SSH service settings can impact the admin user ability to establish an SSH session during replication and require you to obtain and paste a public SSH key into the admin user settings.

Replication tasks typically require a configured and active periodic snapshot task.

Typical Replication Configuration Process

  1. Set up the data storage for where you want to save replicated snapshots.

  2. Make sure the admin user is correctly configured.

  3. Create a periodic snapshot task of the storage locations to back up.

  4. Create an SSH connection between the local TrueNAS system and the remote system for remote replication tasks. Local replication does not require an SSH connection. You can do this from either Credentials > Backup Credentials > SSH Connection and clicking Add or from the Replication Task Wizard using the Generate New option in the settings for the remote system.

  5. Go to Data Protection > Replication Tasks and click Add to open the Replication Task Wizard where you specify the settings for the replication task.

    Setting options change based on the source selections. Replicating to or from a local source does not require an SSH connection.

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