How to delete a GlusterFS snapshot

Deleting the wrong GlusterFS snapshot removes a rollback point that may be needed after a failed change, data corruption event, or retention audit. A safe cleanup starts by matching the exact snapshot name to the original volume before accepting the delete prompt.

The gluster snapshot delete command can delete one named snapshot, every snapshot for one volume, or every snapshot in the cluster. The single-snapshot form removes one old restore point without touching newer snapshots for the same volume.

Snapshot deletion does not delete live files from the origin volume, but it does remove the snapshot metadata and the backend snapshot resources that made that restore point available. Confirm peer connectivity first, unmount any test hosts that mounted the snapshot path, and use backups instead when the snapshot might still be needed for recovery.

1. Confirm the trusted pool peers are connected.

   $ sudo gluster peer status
   Number of Peers: 1
   
   Hostname: node2
   Uuid: 9a64e1f1-5c0e-4c7b-9f7b-7e21b8fd9a10
   State: Peer in Cluster (Connected)

   A standalone node reports Number of Peers: 0. In a cluster, resolve disconnected peers before deleting snapshots.

2. List snapshots for the target volume.

   $ sudo gluster snapshot list volume1
   snap-volume1-2025-01-10
   snap-volume1-2025-02-10

   Run gluster snapshot list without a volume name when the snapshot name is known but the origin volume is not.

3. Inspect the snapshot before deleting it.

   $ sudo gluster snapshot info snap-volume1-2025-01-10
   Snapshot                  : snap-volume1-2025-01-10
   Snap UUID                 : 1d0f8d2e-4b2f-4e57-acde-1cb2f0c0a5f1
   Created                   : 2025-01-10 02:15:44
   Snap Volumes:
   
           Snap Volume Name          : 8a33f7e2d9064e2294d6f4db9719a26a
           Origin Volume name        : volume1
           Status                    : Started
   ##### snipped #####

   Do not continue unless the snapshot name, origin volume, and creation time match the restore point that should be removed.

4. Review the delete scope before running the command.

   Deleted snapshots cannot be recovered. The forms gluster snapshot delete all and gluster snapshot delete volume volume1 remove more than one snapshot.

5. Delete the snapshot by its exact name and confirm the prompt.

   $ sudo gluster snapshot delete snap-volume1-2025-01-10
   Deleting snap will erase all the information about the snap. Do you still want to continue? (y/n) y
   snapshot delete: snap-volume1-2025-01-10: snap removed successfully

6. Confirm the deleted snapshot no longer appears for the volume.

   $ sudo gluster snapshot list volume1
   snap-volume1-2025-02-10