Setting volume retention periods

When you should set the retention periods

You should set the retention periods after creating the SnapLock volume and before using the SnapLock volume. Setting the options at this time ensures that the SnapLock volume reflects your organization's established retention policy.

SnapLock volume retention periods

A SnapLock Compliance volume has three retention periods that you can set:

Minimum retention period

The minimum retention period applies to the shortest amount of time the WORM file must be kept in a SnapLock volume. You set this retention period to ensure that applications or users do not assign noncompliant retention periods to retained records in regulatory environments. This option has the following characteristics:

Existing files that are already in the WORM state are not affected by changes in this volume retention period.
The minimum retention period takes precedence over the default retention period.
Until you explicitly reconfigure it, the minimum retention period is 0.

Maximum retention period

The maximum retention period applies to the largest amount of time the WORM file must be kept in a SnapLock volume. You set this retention period to ensure that applications or users do not assign excessive retention periods to retained records in regulatory environments. This option has the following characteristics:

Existing files that are already in the WORM state are not affected by changes in this volume retention period.
The maximum retention period takes precedence over the default retention period.
Until you explicitly reconfigure it, the maximum retention period is 30 years.

Default retention period

The default retention period specifies the retention period assigned to any WORM file on the SnapLock Compliance volume that was not explicitly assigned a retention period. You set this retention period to ensure that a retention period is assigned to all WORM files on the volume, even if users or applications failed to assign a retention period.

Caution
For SnapLock Compliance volumes, the default retention period is equal to the maximum retention period of 30 years. If you do not change either the maximum retention period or the default retention period, for 30 years you will not be able to delete WORM files that received the default retention period.

Setting SnapLock volume retention periods

SnapLock volume retention periods can be specified in days, months, or years. Data ONTAP applies the retention period in a calendar correct method. That is, if a WORM file created on 1 February has a retention period of 1 month, the retention period will expire on 1 March.

Setting the minimum retention period

To set the SnapLock volume minimum retention period, complete the following step.

Step	Action
1	Enter the following command: vol options vol_name snaplock_minimum_period period vol_name is the SnapLock volume name. period is the retention period in days (d), months (m), or years (y). Example The following command sets a minimum retention period of 6 months: vol options wormvol1 snaplock_minimum_period 6m

Step

Action

Enter the following command:

vol options vol_name snaplock_minimum_period period

vol_name is the SnapLock volume name.

period is the retention period in days (d), months (m), or years (y).

Example

The following command sets a minimum retention period of 6 months:

vol options wormvol1 snaplock_minimum_period 6m

Setting the maximum retention period

To set the SnapLock volume maximum retention period, complete the following step.

Step	Action
1	Enter the following command: vol options vol_name snaplock_maximum_period period vol_name is the SnapLock volume name. period is the retention period in days (d), months (m), or years (y). Example The following command sets a maximum retention period of 3 years: vol options wormvol1 snaplock_maximum_period 3y

Step

Action

Enter the following command:

vol options vol_name snaplock_maximum_period period

vol_name is the SnapLock volume name.

period is the retention period in days (d), months (m), or years (y).

Example

The following command sets a maximum retention period of 3 years:

vol options wormvol1 snaplock_maximum_period 3y

Setting the default retention period

To set the SnapLock volume default retention period, complete the following step.

Step	Action
1	Enter the following command: *vol options vol_name* snaplock_default_period [period \| min \| max]** vol_name is the SnapLock volume name. period is the retention period in days (d), months (m), or years (y). `min` is the retention period specified by the `snaplock_minimum_period` option. `max` is the retention period specified by the `snaplock_maximum_period` option. Example The following command sets a default retention period equal to the minimum retention period: vol options wormvol1 snaplock_default_period min

Step

Action

Enter the following command:

vol options vol_name snaplock_default_period [period | 
min | max]

vol_name is the SnapLock volume name.

period is the retention period in days (d), months (m), or years (y).

min is the retention period specified by the snaplock_minimum_period option.

max is the retention period specified by the snaplock_maximum_period option.

Example

The following command sets a default retention period equal to the minimum retention period:

vol options wormvol1 snaplock_default_period min