ZFS-HOLD(8) System Manager's Manual ZFS-HOLD(8)

# [NAME](#NAME)

`zfs-hold` — hold ZFS snapshots to prevent their removal

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

`zfs` `hold` \[`-r`] `tag` `snapshot`…

`zfs` `holds` \[`-rHp`] `snapshot`…

`zfs` `release` \[`-r`] `tag` `snapshot`…

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

`zfs` `hold` \[`-r`] `tag` `snapshot`…

Adds a single reference, named with the `tag` argument, to the specified snapshots. Each snapshot has its own tag namespace, and tags must be unique within that space.

If a hold exists on a snapshot, attempts to destroy that snapshot by using the `zfs` `destroy` command return **EBUSY**.

[`-r`](#r)

Specifies that a hold with the given tag is applied recursively to the snapshots of all descendent file systems.

`zfs` `holds` \[`-rHp`] `snapshot`…

Lists all existing user references for the given snapshot or snapshots.

[`-r`](#r~2)

Lists the holds that are set on the named descendent snapshots, in addition to listing the holds on the named snapshot.

[`-H`](#H)

Do not print headers, use tab-delimited output.

[`-p`](#p)

Prints holds timestamps as Unix epoch timestamps.

`zfs` `release` \[`-r`] `tag` `snapshot`…

Removes a single reference, named with the `tag` argument, from the specified snapshot or snapshots. The tag must already exist for each snapshot. If a hold exists on a snapshot, attempts to destroy that snapshot by using the `zfs` `destroy` command return **EBUSY**.

[`-r`](#r~3)

Recursively releases a hold with the given tag on the snapshots of all descendent file systems.

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[zfs-destroy(8)](/man/os/zfs/zfs-destroy.8)

November 8, 2022 OpenZFS

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Document: zfs-release(8) from zfs 2.4.4-r3 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://github.com/openzfs/zfs