---
name: "thin_restore"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "thin-provisioning-tools"
version: "1.3.4-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/thin_restore"
---

# thin\_restore(8)

restore thin provisioning metadata file to device or file.

## NAME

**thin\_restore** - restore thin provisioning metadata file to device or file.

## SYNOPSIS

```
thin_restore [options] -i {xml file} -o {device|file}
```

## DESCRIPTION

**thin\_restore restores thin provisioning metadata created by the respective** **device-mapper target dumped into an XML formatted (see [thin\_dump(8)](/thin_dump/8.md)) file,** **which optionally can be preprocessed before the restore to another device or** **file. If restored to a metadata device, the metadata can be processed by the** **device-mapper target.**

**This tool cannot be run on live metadata.**

## OPTIONS

- **-h, --help**

  **Print help and exit.**

- **-V, --version**

  **Print version information and exit.**

- **-q, --quiet**

  **Suppress output messages, return only exit code.**

- **-i, --input {xml file}**

  **Input file containing XML metadata.**

- **-o, --output {device\|file}**

  **Output file or device for restored binary metadata.**

```
    If a file is used for output, then it must be preallocated, and large
    enough to hold the metadata.
```

- **--transaction-id {natural}**

  **Override the transaction id given in the input xml.**

- **--data-block-size {natural}**

  **Override the data block size given in the input xml.**

- **--nr-data-blocks {natural}**

  **Override the nr data blocks given in the input xml.**

## EXAMPLE

**Restores the XML formatted thin provisioning metadata on file metadata to** **logical volume /dev/vg/metadata for further processing by the respective** **device-mapper target:**

```
    $ thin_restore -i metadata -o /dev/vg/metadata
```

## DIAGNOSTICS

**thin\_restore returns an exit code of 0 for success or 1 for error.**

## SEE ALSO

**[thin\_dump(8)](/thin_dump/8.md), [thin\_check(8)](/thin_check/8.md), [thin\_repair(8)](/thin_repair/8.md), [thin\_rmap(8)](/thin_rmap/8.md), [thin\_metadata\_size(8)](/thin_metadata_size/8.md)**

## AUTHOR

**Joe Thornber \<ejt@redhat.com\>, Heinz Mauelshagen \<HeinzM@RedHat.com\>**