Initializing the ComplianceClock feature

You must initialize the ComplianceClock feature if you want to enforce WORM data retention on SnapLock volumes. If the ComplianceClock is not initialized, you cannot delete the files after their expiry date, even on SnapLock Enterprise volumes.

Before You Begin

Ensure that a SnapLock Compliance or SnapLock Enterprise license is installed on the storage system. In addition, ensure that the system time and time zone are set correctly.

Considerations

Data ONTAP checks the ComplianceClock when determining or enforcing retention periods.

For example, Data ONTAP checks the ComplianceClock when determining whether a file has expired; to enforce the volume's minimum, maximum, or default retention period when committed to the WORM state; or to determine whether a volume’s destroy date has expired and the volume can therefore be destroyed.

Attention: The ComplianceClock must be initialized before you create SnapLock Compliance volumes or aggregates. You can initialize the ComplianceClock only once. You should exercise extreme care when setting the ComplianceClock. Ensure that the system clock is as close to the accurate time as possible. The initial setting of the ComplianceClock is based on the current system clock.

Steps

Initialize the ComplianceClock by using the following command: date -c initialize
The system prompts you to confirm the current local time and to verify that you want to initialize the ComplianceClock.
Confirm that the system clock is correct and that you want to initialize the ComplianceClock.

ComplianceClock initialization message

*** WARNING: YOU ARE INITIALIZING THE SECURE COMPLIANCE CLOCK ***

You are about to initialize the secure Compliance Clock of this
system to the current value of the system clock. This procedure
can be performed ONLY ONCE on this system so you should ensure
that the system time is set correctly before proceeding.

The current local system time is: Wed Feb 4 23:38:58 GMT 2007

Is the current local system time correct? y
Are you REALLY sure you want initialize the Compliance Clock? y

Compliance Clock: Wed Feb 4 23:39:27 GMT 2007

Parent topic: What SnapLock is