--- title: "" url: "https://docs.yugabyte.com/stable/deploy/multi-dc/async-replication/includes/automatic-setup/" --- # Before setting up xCluster replication, ensure you have reviewed the [Prerequisites](/stable/deploy/multi-dc/async-replication/includes/#prerequisites "Prerequisites") and [Best practices](/stable/deploy/multi-dc/async-replication/includes/#best-practices "Best practices"). DDLs must be paused on the Primary universe during the entire setup process. [#26053](https://github.com/yugabyte/yugabyte-db/issues/26053) - [![Server Icon](/icons/database.svg) Yugabyted](#yugabyted) - [Manual](#local) The following assumes you have set up Primary and Standby universes. Refer to [Set up universes](/stable/deploy/multi-dc/async-replication/includes/async-deployment/#set-up-universes "Set up universes"). 1. Create a checkpoint on the Primary universe for all the databases that you want to be part of the replication. ```sh ./bin/yugabyted xcluster create_checkpoint \ --replication_id \ --databases \ --automatic_mode ``` The command informs you how to perform the needed bootstraps -- databases must always be bootstrapped in automatic mode. For example: ```output +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | yugabyted | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Status : xCluster create checkpoint success. | | Bootstrapping : Bootstrap is required for database `yugabyte`. | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ For each database which requires bootstrap run the following commands to perform a backup and restore. Run on source: ./yugabyted backup --cloud_storage_uri --database --base_dir Run on target: ./yugabyted restore --cloud_storage_uri --database --base_dir ``` 2. Perform a full copy of the database(s) on the Primary to the Standby using distributed [backup](/stable/deploy/reference/configuration/yugabyted/#backup "backup") and [restore](/stable/deploy/reference/configuration/yugabyted/#restore "restore"). A full copy is needed here: it is not sufficient to just set up the same schemas on both sides via DDLs, even if there is no data. That will not properly set up some internal metadata including Postgres OIDs. 3. Enable [point-in-time recovery (PITR)](/stable/deploy/manage/backup-restore/point-in-time-recovery/enable-pitr/ "point-in-time recovery (PITR)") on the database(s) on both the Primary and Standby universes: ```sh ./bin/yugabyted configure point_in_time_recovery \ --enable \ --retention \ --database ``` The `retention_period` must be greater than the amount of time you expect the Primary universe to be down before it self recovers or before you perform a failover to the Standby universe. 4. Set up the xCluster replication. ```sh ./bin/yugabyted xcluster set_up \ --target_address \ --replication_id \ --bootstrap_done ``` You should see output similar to the following: ```output +-----------------------------------------------+ | yugabyted | +-----------------------------------------------+ | Status : xCluster set-up successful. | +-----------------------------------------------+ ``` The following assumes you have set up Primary and Standby universes. Refer to [Set up universes](/stable/deploy/multi-dc/async-replication/includes/async-deployment/#set-up-universes "Set up universes"). 1. Create a checkpoint using the `create_xcluster_checkpoint` command, providing a name for the replication group, and the names of the databases to replicate as a comma-separated list. ```sh ./bin/yb-admin \ --master_addresses \ create_xcluster_checkpoint \ \ \ automatic_ddl_mode ``` Note that automatic mode always requires bootstrapping databases so you will need to backup and restore the databases. Sample command output: ```output Waiting for checkpointing of database(s) to complete Checkpointing of yugabyte completed. Bootstrap is required for setting up xCluster replication Successfully checkpointed databases for xCluster replication group repl_group1 Perform a distributed Backup of database(s) [yugabyte] and Restore them on the target universe Once the above step(s) complete run 'setup_xcluster_replication' ``` You can also manually check the status as follows: ```sh ./bin/yb-admin \ --master_addresses 127.0.0.1:7100,127.0.0.2:7100,127.0.0.3:7100 \ is_xcluster_bootstrap_required repl_group1 yugabyte ``` You should see output similar to the following: ```output Waiting for checkpointing of database(s) to complete Checkpointing of yugabyte completed. Bootstrap is required for setting up xCluster replication ``` 2. Perform a full copy of the database on the Primary to the Standby using distributed backup and restore. See [Distributed snapshots for YSQL](/stable/deploy/manage/backup-restore/snapshot-ysql/ "Distributed snapshots for YSQL"). A full copy is needed here: it is not sufficient to just set up the same schemas on both sides via DDLs, even if there is no data. That will not properly set up some internal metadata including Postgres OIDs. 3. Enable [point in time restore (PITR)](/stable/deploy/admin/yb-admin/#create-snapshot-schedule "point in time restore (PITR)") on the database(s) on both the Primary and Standby universes: ```sh ./bin/yb-admin \ --master_addresses \ create_snapshot_schedule \ \ \ ``` The `retention-time` must be greater than the amount of time you expect the Primary universe to be down before it self recovers or before you perform a failover to the Standby universe. 4. Set up the xCluster replication group. ```sh ./bin/yb-admin \ --master_addresses \ setup_xcluster_replication \ \ ``` You should see output similar to the following: ```output xCluster Replication group repl_group1 setup successfully ```