zfs-redaction-bookmark · shipping · also OpenZFS redaction bookmark

ZFS redaction bookmark

A ZFS redaction bookmark records blocks to omit and the descendant snapshots used to define a redacted send.

Related Observatory article: ZFS redaction bookmark on hesela.com

The parent block is omitted only if none of the selected descendant snapshots references it. Keeping that block in even one selected snapshot means it is sent. [1]

For --redact, the bookmark must have been created for the snapshot being sent. The stream carries the selected-snapshot list; the receiver retains it and uses it to check compatible subsequent receives. [1]

The redaction_bookmarks feature supports creating this record; redacted_datasets supports receiving the resulting incomplete dataset. These are separate pool capabilities. [2]

Relations

related

ZFS bookmark, ZFS dataset clone, Storage snapshot, Incremental backup, ZFS raw send

Limitations

• Only user data is redacted; raw and redacted sends cannot be combined in OpenZFS v2.3. [1]
• The received redacted dataset is incomplete, not a directly usable full recovery image. [2]

Citations

1. OpenZFS v2.3: zfs-send(8), --redact, zfs redact and Redaction (accessed 2026-11-11)
2. OpenZFS v2.3: zpool-features(7), redaction_bookmarks and redacted_datasets (accessed 2026-11-11)

Further reading

3. Hesela: Snapshots and backups: which failures can you recover from? (accessed 2026-11-10)

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