RackWare Inc.

This article describes steps on how to resolve a "common" error Customer faces during RMM MIG SYNC or DR SYNC's, viz,

The specified source and target is not allowed to perform sync operation. To override specify --force or modify the sync relation confluence options. 

Background: 

This issue is typically seen when attempting to SYNC between 2 "entities" that do not have a SYNC relationship yet.   

Or, in other words, when for example, an ORIGIN-1 is already SYNC'd to either an IMAGE-1 or TARGET-1 (and has a SYNC relationship), and you are attempting to setup a SYNC for either Target-2 (or IMAGE-2) the above error occurs. 

Examples of other scenarios when the error happens:

ORIGIN-1 -> TARGET-2

ORIGIN-1 -> IMAGE-2

IMAGE-1 -> TARGET-2

Symptom: 

Unless the "error" is corrected, Customers will not be able to continue to perform the SYNC post this error.

Before you Begin/Explanation:

Use case: 

Performing the following types of SYNC's, using RMM, either with Windows OS or Linux based OS, as the ORIGIN servers:
1) Migration (Direct or Host Sync) 

or 

2) DR Syncs - Stage-1 or Stage-2 

Applicable To:   

ANY version of RMM

Preparation/Pre-Req: 

You will need access to RMM CLI as a 'root' user and be familiar with the following commands - you can always check command help with --help option

eg. 

rw image show --help

rw image show | less

#this shows the list of ORIGIN and IMAGE Friendly names for you to identify

rw ic srs <ORIGIN_Friendly_Name>  

#this shows the SYNC relationship for the ORIGIN

rw ic srd <ORIGIN_Friendly_Name> --target <TARGET or IMAGE_Friendly_Name>

#this deletes the SYNC relationship for the ORIGIN and TARGET/IMAGE

Steps:

We will illustrate the steps of resolving the said error, using an example.  

Assume on your RMM, the following is the sample output of the command - rw image show - which shows there is one ORIGIN object 'D1-ORIGIN-1-Src', its corresponding IMAGE 'D1-ORIGIN-1-Img' and its corresponding TARGET 'TARGET-1'

Assume you want to setup a new SYNC for this ORIGIN, D1-ORIGIN-1-Src, either to;  

'TARGET-2'
(#for DIRECT SYNC or Migration SYNC) 

or

D1-IMAGE-2-Src
(#for DR Stage-1 Sync)

Follow the procedure below:

# This command shows the SYNC relationship of ORIGIN D1-ORIGIN-1-Src.  

rw ic srs D1-ORIGIN-1-Src

Host Entries

 Sync From      Sync To      Stage

-----------  -------------  -------

D1-ORIGIN-1-Src  D1-ORIGIN-1-Img STAGE-1

D1-ORIGIN-1-Src  TARGET-1 Direct Sync

In this example output of the command, the D1-ORIGIN-1-Src has: 

1) 'STAGE-1' SYNC relationship with its corresponding IMAGE, D1-ORIGIN-1-Img 

and

2) 'Direct Sync' or 'Host Sync' relationship with its corresponding Target, TARGET-1   

***********

# This command shows the SYNC relationship of IMAGE D1-ORIGIN-1-Img.  

rw ic srs D1-ORIGIN-1-Img

Host Entries

    Sync From            Sync To         Stage

------------------  ------------------  -------

D1-ORIGIN-1-Img   TARGET-1    STAGE-2

D1-ORIGIN-1-Src    D1-ORIGIN-1-Img STAGE-1

In this example output of the command, the 'image' D1-ORIGIN-1-Img has: 

1) 'STAGE-2' SYNC relationship with its corresponding Target, TARGET-1

and

2) 'STAGE-1' relationship with its corresponding ORIGIN. 'D1-ORIGIN-1-Src'  

*****

In such a SET UP, RMM SYNC's are allowed only between the "specific entities" and in the "specific direction"

*****

If Customer is attempting to perform a new SYNC of ORIGIN. 'D1-ORIGIN-1-Src', either to:

a NEW IMAGE 'D1-ORIGIN-2-Img', 

or 

to a NEW TARGET, 'TARGET-2' 

RMM will NOT ALLOW the SYNC to proceed and shows the above error message. 

************

To Resolve the ERROR:

There are 3 options to resolve the said ERROR and continue with the SYNC:

Option-1 -- (preferred) DELETE the existing SYNC Relationship - between ORIGIN-1 to TARGET-1, or ORIGIN-1 to IMAGE-1

or

Option-2 -- ADD a new SYNC Relationship - between ORIGIN-1 to TARGET-2, or ORIGIN-1 to IMAGE-2 (ONLY if both OBJECTS exist on the RMM)

#ONLY option-1 is illustrated here, since this will be the most common use case.

rw ic srd D1-ORIGIN-1-Src --target TARGET-1   

#this will delete the SYNC relation of ORIGIN with its TARGET for Direct SYNC

rw ic srd D1-ORIGIN-1-Src --target D1-ORIGIN-1-Img 

#this will delete the SYNC relation of ORIGIN with its image for Stage-1 SYNC

#Review the SYNC Relationship of ORIGIN-1 - The SYNC relationship the ORIGIN had earlier has now been deleted.

rw ic srs D1-ORIGIN-1-Src

Host Entries

 Sync From      Sync To      Stage

-----------  -------------  -------

***********

From the RMM GUI, for the ORIGIN=D1-ORIGIN-1-Src, Customer can now configure either:

'TARGET-2' for DIRECT SYNC or Migration SYNC 

or

D1-IMAGE-2-Src for Stage-1 Sync

and successfully preform the SYNC, or a new AutoProvision as needed.

***********

Similar concept can be followed if Syncing in other scenarios, for example, if there is a SYNC Relationship error for a NON EXISTING TARGET Host object (in RMM DB), due to an IP conflict.

Option 3 -- Depending on the SYNC Type, simply delete the conflicting TARGET HOST OBJECT from RMM CLI using host delete command (example rw host delete Target_host_object ) and retry the SYNC

Post Changes:

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Important Note(s):

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