How the SnapLock volume retention period works

After creating the SnapLock volume, you can set the volume retention periods. The SnapLock volume retention periods can be specified in days, months, or years.

Data ONTAP applies the retention period in a calendar-correct method. For example, if a WORM file or Snapshot copy created on 1 February has a retention period of one month, the retention period will expire on 1st March.

A SnapLock Compliance or Enterprise volume has three retention period values:

Minimum retention period
Maximum retention period
Default retention period

The storage system checks for the minimum and maximum values when a file is committed to the WORM state. You can extend the retention date beyond the date set by the volume's maximum retention period value after the file has been locked initially.

The following table shows the default maximum and minimum retention periods for SnapLock Enterprise and SnapLock Compliance volumes.

Option	SnapLock Enterprise default	SnapLock Compliance default
snaplock_minimum_period	0	0
snaplock_maximum_period	30 years	30 years
snaplock_default_period	min (equal to snaplock_minimum_period)	max (equal to snaplock_maximum_period)

Viewing the retention period of a volume
You can view the retention period of a volume.
What the minimum retention period is
The minimum retention period is the shortest amount of time that a WORM file can be retained in a SnapLock volume. If the application sets the retention period shorter than the minimum retention period, Data ONTAP adjusts the retention period of the file to the volume's minimum retention period.
Setting the minimum retention period
You can set the SnapLock volume minimum retention period to ensure that applications or users do not assign retention periods that do not confirm to the minimum retention period requirement.
What the maximum retention period is
The maximum retention period is the longest retention period a file can have at the time of being committed to WORM. After a file is committed to WORM, its retention period can be extended beyond this limit.
Setting the maximum retention period
You can set the SnapLock volume maximum retention period to ensure that applications or users do not assign excessive retention periods that do not conform to the required maximum retention period values. You can also set the maximum retention period to infinite.
What the default retention period is
The default retention period is assigned to a WORM file on a SnapLock volume if the file was not explicitly assigned a retention period.
Setting the default retention period
You can reset the default retention period of a SnapLock volume. You can do this to ensure that a retention period is assigned to all the WORM files on the volume even if users or the application failed to assign a retention period.

Parent topic: What the retention period is