## SME Disk Key Replication

The SME Disk Key Replication (DKR) feature manages key replication in support of third-party data mirroring solutions. The DKR feature supports the following:

• Mirrors or clones—A copy of the data in the source disk is duplicated by the disk array into another disk (mirror or clone) in the same storage system.

• Replication—The data in the source disk is duplicated by the disk array into another disk in a remote storage system. Two types of replication are available: Synchronous and Asynchronous.

Note Disk Key Replication only takes care of key replication. The user needs to ensure data replication.

Note DKR relationships are only allowed between the same SME Disk Clusters of the same type. For example, a Signature SME Disk cluster cannot be used in DKR with a nonsignature SME Disk cluster.

The source and the destination disk can be in three stable states: clear, crypto, and failed. When a disk key replication relationship is synchronized, both the state and the active crypto key of the source disk are replicated to the destination disk.

The DKR feature is maintained by DCNM-SAN and all SME key modification operations for disks using DKR must be done through DCNM-SAN.

Caution The key replication must be disabled when a disk is undergoing data preparation or rekey. The combination is not supported.

Note To ensure appropriate key associations, you must ensure that the same KMC (database) manages all the disks that are involved in a replication or snapshot relationship.

Note DKR must be disabled when converting a nonsignature SME disk cluster to a signature SME disk cluster.