Zrepl is an advanced open-source tool designed for replicating and backing up ZFS datasets between local and remote systems. It leverages incremental ZFS send/receive, supports automatic scheduling, SSH transfers, snapshot pruning, and is built with a strong focus on security, reliability, and maintainability.

Thanks to its modular design, Zrepl is an excellent choice for production servers, home NAS devices, development environments, and any infrastructure requiring safe, consistent, and automated data synchronization between ZFS systems.

Key Benefits of Using Zrepl

• Automated replication – snapshots are sent automatically without manual intervention.

• Push and pull modes – flexible topologies for initiating replication.

• Encrypted SSH transfers – secure syncs without custom tunnels.

• Clean YAML configuration – readable and well-structured, ideal even for beginners.

• Integrated snapshot management – Zrepl handles snapshot creation and retention according to policy.

• Logging and monitoring – Prometheus support, structured logs, and real-time job status visibility.

How Zrepl Works in Practice

Zrepl runs as a daemon on both source and destination systems. You can choose between:

• Push mode – the source server initiates the replication.

• Pull mode – the destination server fetches snapshots from the source.

A typical YAML configuration defines jobs, replication intervals, pruning policies, and SSH access:

jobs:
  - name: backup
    type: push
    connect:
      type: ssh+stdin
      host: backup-server.local
      user: zrepl
    filesystems: {
      "tank/data<": true
    }
    snapshotting:
      type: periodic
      interval: 1h
    pruning:
      keep:
        hourly: 24
        daily: 7
        monthly: 3

Zrepl vs. Syncoid vs. Sanoid – Tool Comparison

Zrepl excels in enterprise environments, where auditable, automated, and secure ZFS replication is a priority.

Common Use Cases for Zrepl

• Backup of production servers to a secure off-site storage

• Disaster recovery with remote dataset replication

• Syncing datasets between data centers or home and Cloud

• Hands-free home NAS replication for data integrity and rollback

Limitations and Considerations

• ZFS-only – Zrepl only works on systems using native ZFS (Linux, FreeBSD).

• SSH and permission setup – requires proper SSH key configuration and access rights.

• No GUI – all configuration is handled via YAML files and command line.

Despite these limitations, Zrepl is among the most powerful, maintainable, and production-ready ZFS replication tools available today.

Zrepl is a modern, efficient, and secure solution for automated ZFS replication. It offers full control over snapshot creation, retention, and encrypted transmission—making it ideal for both small-scale and enterprise-level infrastructures. If you’re seeking a reliable tool to automate and monitor ZFS backups or dataset synchronization, Zrepl is a top-tier choice.