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SnapMirror SnapShots cannot be deleted, causing space pressure

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Applies to

  • ONTAP 9
  • SnapMirror

Issue

  • Volume snapshot usage has increased abnormally, resulting in space pressure.
  • Attempts to delete SnapMirror-related snapshots fail, leading to insufficient free space for user data.
  • Relevant log output:
    • AutoSupport (ASUP) -> VOL-STATUS-S 

            Feature                                           Used      Used%
            --------------------------------      ----------------      -----
            User Data                                       24.9TB        61%
            Filesystem Metadata                             36.7GB         0%
            Inodes                                          11.6MB         0%
            Deduplication                                    382GB         1%
            Temporary Deduplication                          103GB         0%
            Snapshot Spill                                  15.2TB        37%
            Total                                           40.7TB       100%
            Total Physical Used                             40.7TB       100%
            Logical Used                                    42.2TB       104%

    • CLI command outputs:
::> snapshot show
vol1
snapmirror.5619a4b7-1570-11ee-b527-xxxxxxxxxxxx_2157752329.2025-11-07_023000   3.43TB   8%   12%
snapmirror.5619a4b7-1570-11ee-b527-xxxxxxxxxxxx_2157752329.2025-11-13_063000  12.81TB  31%   34%
::> volume snapshot show -snapshot snapmirror* -fields dependency
svm1    vol1   snapmirror.5619a4b7-1570-11ee-b527-xxxxxxxxxxxx_2157752329.2025-11-07_023000   snapmirror,snapmirror
svm1    vol1   snapmirror.5619a4b7-1570-11ee-b527-xxxxxxxxxxxx_2157752329.2025-11-13_063000   snapmirror
Notes:
  • Do not attempt to manually delete SnapMirror-related snapshots while the dependency is active (snapmirror or busy in the dependency field), as this may disrupt data protection or replication.
  • For details on identifying and deleting unnecessary SnapMirror snapshots, see: How to identify and delete unnecessary SnapMirror snapshots

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