---
title: ""
url: "https://docs.yugabyte.com/stable/deploy/multi-dc/async-replication/includes/semi-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 set up process. [#26053](https://github.com/yugabyte/yugabyte-db/issues/26053)

- [![Server Icon](/icons/database.svg) yugabyted](#yugabyted-setup)
- [Manual](#local-setup)

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 <replication_id> \
       --databases <comma_separated_database_names>
   ```
   
   The command informs you if any data needs to be copied to the Standby, or only the schema (empty tables and indexes) needs to be created.
   
   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 <AWS/GCP/local cloud storage uri>  --database <database_name> --base_dir <base_dir of source node>
   Run on target:
   ./yugabyted restore --cloud_storage_uri <AWS/GCP/local cloud storage uri>  --database <database_name> --base_dir <base_dir of target node>
   ```
2. If needed, 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").
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 <retention_period> \
       --database <database_name>
   ```
   
   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 <ip_of_any_target_cluster_node> \
       --replication_id <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 <primary_master_addresses> \
       create_xcluster_checkpoint <replication_group_id> <comma_separated_namespace_names>
   ```
   
   The command informs you if any data needs to be copied to the Standby, or only the schema (empty tables and indexes) needs to be created. For example:
   
   ```output
   Waiting for checkpointing of database(s) to complete
   Checkpointing of yugabyte completed. Bootstrap is not required for setting up xCluster replication
   Successfully checkpointed databases for xCluster replication group repl_group1
   Create equivalent YSQL objects (schemas, tables, indexes, ...) for databases [yugabyte] on the standby 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 not required for setting up xCluster replication
   ```
2. If needed, 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/#move-a-snapshot-to-external-storage "Distributed snapshots for YSQL"). Otherwise, create the necessary schema objects (tables and indexes) on the Standby.
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/yb-admin \
       --master_addresses <standby_master_addresses> \
       create_snapshot_schedule 1 10 ysql.yugabyte
   ```
4. Set up the xCluster replication group.
   
   ```sh
   ./bin/yb-admin \
   --master_addresses <primary_master_addresses> \
   setup_xcluster_replication <replication_group_id> <standby_master_addresses>
   ```
   
   You should see output similar to the following:
   
   ```output
   xCluster Replication group repl_group1 setup successfully
   ```