topic Can a schedule in the snapshot policy be associated with two different prefix names? in ONTAP Discussions

Can a schedule in the snapshot policy be associated with two different prefix names?

heightsnj — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 10:02:24 GMT

I am using the command following to create snapshot policy:

>volume snapshot policy create -policy snapshot_app1 -enabled true -schedule1 daily2030 -count1 15 -prefix1 snapshot_app1_15days_daily

If I wanted to use the the same schedule "daily2030", and use different prefix name, say prefix2, it won't allow me to do that. Is there anyway i can use the same schedule but with different prefix name?

Re: Can a schedule in the snapshot policy be associated with two different prefix names?

hmoubara — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 04:40:13 GMT

Hello @heightsnj

A snapshot policy can not contain same schedule with different prefix. You will have to create a separate policy and add the original schedule desire and specify the new prefix. Per example:

cluster::> snapshot policy add-schedule -policy >policy name< -schedule daily2030 -prefix <>

How to create a snapshot policy:

https://docs.netapp.com/us-en/ontap/data-protection/create-snapshot-policy-task.html

How to create a Snapshot Cron Schedule:

https://docs.netapp.com/us-en/ontap/data-protection/create-snapshot-job-schedule-task.html

Thanks

Re: Can a schedule in the snapshot policy be associated with two different prefix names?

tahmad — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 06:39:24 GMT

Hello heightsnj,

As hmoubarak mentioned:

Every schedule has only one prefix. Once a prefix gets associated with a schedule it cannot be updated.

Re: Can a schedule in the snapshot policy be associated with two different prefix names?

heightsnj — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 15:28:31 GMT

1. After several tests, it looks to me that the same schedule can only be used in a policy and not in different policies. That sounds weird to me as for what logical reasons behind that. In some cases, what if I wanted to use the same schedule for different policy? why cannot be allowed? That was my original question.

2. As different than what @hmoubara said, " snapshot policy add-schedule " only can be used if I use a different schedule into the same policy. So, the command as suggested below was incorrect:
cluster::> snapshot policy add-schedule -policy >policy name< -schedule daily2030 -prefix <>

Re: Can a schedule in the snapshot policy be associated with two different prefix names?

hmoubara — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 04:58:55 GMT

Hello @heightsnj

Doing further checking you are right, Every schedule has only one prefix. Once a prefix gets associated with a schedule, you cannot update the prefix. If some prefix is already associated with the schedule and you do not specify this parameter, then the previously defined prefix is used.

Thanks