thin\_dump(8) System Manager's Manual thin\_dump(8)

# [NAME](#NAME)

**thin\_dump** - dump thin provisioning metadata from device or file to standard output.

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

```
thin_dump [options] {device|file}
```

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

**thin\_dump** dumps binary thin provisioning metadata (optionally from alternate block; see option **--metadata-snap**) created by the device-mapper thin provisioning target on a device or file to standard output for analysis or postprocessing in either XML or human readable format. XML formatted metadata can be fed into thin\_restore (see [**thin\_restore**(8)](/man/enterprise-packages/thin-provisioning-tools/thin_restore.8)) in order to put it back onto a metadata device (to process by the device-mapper target) or file.

This tool cannot be run on live metadata unless the **--metadata-snap** option is used.

# [OPTIONS](#OPTIONS)

[**-h, --help**](#h)

Print help and exit.

[**-V, --version**](#V)

Print version information and exit.

[**-f, --format {xml|human\_readable}**](#f)

Choose output format.

[**-r, --repair**](#r)

Repair the metadata whilst dumping it.

[**-m, --metadata-snap\[=<block nr>\]**](#m)

Dump metadata snapshot.

```


    If block is not provided, access the default metadata snapshot created by


    the thin provisioning device-mapper target, else try the one at block nr.


    See the thin provisioning target documentation on how to create or release


    a metadata snapshot and retrieve the block number from the kernel.
```

[**--dev-id {natural}**](#dev_id)

Dump the specified device.

```


    This option may be specified multiple times to select more than one thin


    device.
```

[**--transaction-id {natural}**](#transaction_id)

Override the transaction id given in the input xml.

[**--data-block-size {sectors}**](#data_block_size)

Override the data block size given in the input xml.

[**--nr-data-blocks {natural}**](#nr_data_blocks)

Override the nr data blocks given in the input xml.

[**--skip-mappings**](#skip_mappings)

Do not dump the mappings.

[**-o {xml file}**](#o)

Specify a file for the output rather than writing to stdout.

# [EXAMPLES](#EXAMPLES)

Dumps the thin provisioning metadata on logical volume /dev/vg/metadata to standard output in human readable format:

```


    $ thin_dump -f human_readable /dev/vg/metadata
```

Dumps the thin provisioning metadata on logical volume /dev/vg/metadata to standard output in XML format:

```


    $ thin_dump /dev/vg/metadata
```

Dumps the thin provisioning metadata snapshot on logical volume /dev/vg/metadata to standard output in human readable format (not processable by [**thin\_restore**(8)](/man/enterprise-packages/thin-provisioning-tools/thin_restore.8)):

```


    $ thin_dump --format human_readable --metadata-snap /dev/vg/metadata
```

# [DIAGNOSTICS](#DIAGNOSTICS)

**thin\_dump** returns an exit code of 0 for success or 1 for error.

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[**thin\_check**(8)](/man/enterprise-packages/thin-provisioning-tools/thin_check.8), [**thin\_repair**(8)](/man/enterprise-packages/thin-provisioning-tools/thin_repair.8), [**thin\_restore**(8)](/man/enterprise-packages/thin-provisioning-tools/thin_restore.8), [**thin\_rmap**(8)](/man/enterprise-packages/thin-provisioning-tools/thin_rmap.8), [**thin\_metadata\_size**(8)](/man/enterprise-packages/thin-provisioning-tools/thin_metadata_size.8)

# [AUTHOR](#AUTHOR)

Joe Thornber <ejt@redhat.com>, Heinz Mauelshagen <HeinzM@RedHat.com>

Device Mapper Tools System Manager's Manual

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Document: thin_dump(8) from thin-provisioning-tools 1.3.4-r4 (Chainguard OS)