Consistency groups can be created with existing volumes or new LUNs or volumes (depending on the version of ONTAP). A volume or LUN can only be associated with one consistency group at a time.

About this task

In ONTAP 9.10.1 through 9.11.1, modifying the member volumes of a consistency group after it is created is not supported.

Beginning with ONTAP 9.12.1, you can modify the member volumes of a consistency group. For more information on this process, refer to Modify a consistency group.

Create a consistency group with new LUNs or volumes

In ONTAP 9.10.1 through 9.12.1, you can create a consistency group using new LUNs. Beginning with ONTAP 9.13.1, ONTAP System Manager also supports creating a consistency group with new NVMe namespaces or new NAS volumes. (This is also supported in the ONTAP REST API beginning with ONTAP 9.12.1.)

ONTAP System Manager

Steps

Select Storage > Consistency groups.
Select +Add then select the protocol for your storage object.

In ONTAP 9.10.1 through 9.12.1, the only option for a new storage object is Using new LUNs. Beginning with ONTAP 9.13.1, ONTAP System Manager supports creating consistency groups with new NVMe namespaces and new NAS volumes.
Name the consistency group. Designate the number of volumes or LUNs and the capacity per volume or LUN.
1. Application Type: If you are using ONTAP 9.12.1 or later, select an application type. If no value is selected, the consistency group will be assigned the type of Other by default. Learn more about tagging consistency in Application and component tags. If you plan to create a consistency group with a remote protection policy, you must use Other.
2. For New LUNs: Select the host operating system and LUN format. Enter the host initiator information.
3. For New NAS volumes: choose the appropriate export option (NFS or SMB/CIFS) based on the NAS configuration of your SVM.
4. For New NVMe namespaces: Select the host operating system and NVMe subsystem.
To configure protection policies, add a child consistency group, or access permissions, select More options.
Select Save.
Confirm your consistency group has been created by returning to the main consistency group menu where it will appear once the job completes. If you set a protection policy, you will know it has been applied when you see a green shield under look under the appropriate policy, remote or local.

CLI

Beginning with ONTAP 9.14.1, you can create a new consistency group with new volumes using the ONTAP CLI. The specific parameters depends on whether the volumes are SAN, NVMe, or NFS.

Before you begin

You must be at the admin privilege level to perform this task.
In ONTAP 9.14.1, you must be a cluster or SVM administrator to perform this task. Beginning with ONTAP 9.15.1, any user at the admin privilege level can perform this task.

Create a consistency group with NFS volumes

Create the consistency group:

consistency-group create -vserver SVM_name -consistency-group consistency-group-name -volume-prefix volume-name -volume-count number -size size -export-policy policy_name

Create a consistency group with SAN volumes

Create the consistency group:

consistency-group create -vserver SVM_name -consistency-group consistency-group-name -lun lun_name -size size -lun-count number -igroup igroup_name -lun-os-type os_type

Create a consistency group with NVMe namespaces

Create the consistency group:

consistency-group create -vserver SVM_name -consistency-group consistency_group_name -namespace namespace_name -volume-count number -namespace-count number -size size -subsystem subsystem_name

After you’re done

Confirm your consistency group has been created using the consistency-group show command.

Create a consistency group with existing volumes

You can use existing volumes to create a consistency group.

ONTAP System Manager

Steps

Select Storage > Consistency groups.
Select +Add then Using existing volumes.
Name the consistency group and select the storage VM.
1. Application Type: If you are using ONTAP 9.12.1 or later, select an application type. If no value is selected, the consistency group will be assigned the type of Other by default. Learn more about tagging consistency in Application and component tags. If the consistency group has a SnapMirror active sync relationship, you must use Other.
  
  In versions of ONTAP earlier than ONTAP 9.15.1, SnapMirror active sync is referred to as SnapMirror Business Continuity.

Select the existing volumes to include. Only volumes that are not already part of a consistency group will be available for selection.

If creating a consistency group with existing volumes, the consistency group supports FlexVol volumes. Volumes with or SnapMirror synchronous or SnapMirror asynchronous relationships can be added to consistency groups, but they are not consistency group-aware. Consistency groups do not support S3 buckets or storage VMs with SVMDR relationships.

Select Save.
Confirm your consistency group has been created by returning to the main consistency group menu where it appears once the ONTAP job completes. If you have chosen a protection policy, confirm it was properly set by selecting your consistency group from the menu. If you set a protection policy, you know it has been applied when you see a green shield under look under the appropriate policy, remote or local.

CLI

Beginning with ONTAP 9.14.1, you can create a consistency group with existing volumes using the ONTAP CLI.

Before you begin

You must be at the admin privilege level to perform this task.
In ONTAP 9.14.1, you must be a cluster or SVM administrator to perform this task. Beginning with ONTAP 9.15.1, any user at the admin privilege level can perform this task.

Steps

Issue the consistency-group create command. The -volumes parameter accepts a comma-separated list of volume names.

consistency-group create -vserver SVM_name -consistency-group consistency-group-name -volume volumes
View your consistency group using the consistency-group show command.

Next steps