{
  "slug": "zfs-raw-send",
  "term": "ZFS raw send",
  "aliases": [
    "OpenZFS raw send"
  ],
  "definition": "ZFS raw send transfers an encrypted dataset in its stored encrypted representation, preserving the encryption metadata needed for compatible incremental receives.",
  "note": "For encrypted datasets, zfs send -w works without loaded keys. On unencrypted datasets it is equivalent to -Lec and does not add encryption. [send]\n\nRaw incrementals require compatible base-snapshot IV sets; a non-raw receive can break that chain. [receive]",
  "advantages": [],
  "limitations": [
    {
      "text": "Native encryption leaves dataset names visible and does not prevent deletion without loaded keys.",
      "citationIds": [
        "keys"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "snapshot",
    "incremental-backup",
    "authenticated-encryption",
    "cryptographic-nonce"
  ],
  "citations": [
    {
      "id": "send",
      "title": "OpenZFS v2.3: zfs-send(8), raw and resumed streams",
      "url": "https://openzfs.github.io/openzfs-docs/man/v2.3/8/zfs-send.8.html",
      "accessed": "2026-10-18"
    },
    {
      "id": "receive",
      "title": "OpenZFS v2.3: zfs-receive(8), incremental and raw receives",
      "url": "https://openzfs.github.io/openzfs-docs/man/v2.3/8/zfs-receive.8.html",
      "accessed": "2026-10-18"
    },
    {
      "id": "keys",
      "title": "OpenZFS v2.3: zfs-load-key(8), encryption scope",
      "url": "https://openzfs.github.io/openzfs-docs/man/v2.3/8/zfs-load-key.8.html",
      "accessed": "2026-10-18"
    },
    {
      "id": "hesela-recovery",
      "title": "Hesela: Snapshots and backups: which failures can you recover from?",
      "url": "https://hesela.com/analyses/snapshot-backup-recovery-boundaries/",
      "accessed": "2026-10-18"
    }
  ],
  "status": "shipping",
  "supersedes": [],
  "supersededBy": [],
  "firstSeen": null,
  "lastSeen": null,
  "updated": "2026-10-18",
  "provenance": [
    "Version scope: OpenZFS v2.3 documentation; no pool or recovery experiment."
  ]
}