Within a cluster of servers, you create a number of replicas for each database to ensure user access to an updated replica even if a particular cluster server becomes unavailable. You can mark a cluster replica for deletion while users are working with the replica. Domino then prevents new users from accessing the marked replica and deletes the database after all current users exit the database. Before deleting the database, Domino replicates any changes to other replicas in the cluster.

Deleting a replica in a cluster

1. Make sure you have Manager access in the database ACL.

2. From the Domino Administrator, select the server that stores the replicas you want to delete.

3. Click the Files tab.

4. Select the folder containing the replicas you want to delete.

5. In the files window, select the replicas you want to delete.

6. In the Tools pane on the right, select Database - Cluster. Or drag the selected replicas to the Cluster tool.

7. Select "Pending delete."

8. Click OK to mark the database for deletion.

Deleting a non-cluster database and its replicas using the Administration Process

1. Make sure you have Manager access in the database ACL.

2. From the Domino Administrator, select the server that stores the database you want to delete.

3. Click the Files tab.

4. Select the database to delete.

5. Click Database - Delete. The Confirm Database Delete dialog box appears.

6. (Optional) Select "Also delete replicas of this database on all other servers" if you want the Administration Process to delete other replicas.

7. If you are using Domino 8.0 or more recent, and you are using the database redirect feature, you have the option of choosing one or both of these check boxes:

Check box	Description
Create a marker that allows clients to update their references to this database	Select this option if you are using the database redirect feature and you want to allow IBM® Lotus® Notes® clients to update their database references to the database you are deleting. The Notes client will update references such as bookmarks and desktop shortcuts to access a replica of the deleted database.
Redirect clients to the following server	Select this option if you are using the database redirect feature and you want to specify the server that contains the database replica that clients should use in their updated database references. Specify the server name.

8. Click OK.

For information about the redirect database references feature, see the topic Redirecting client references to databases.

Deleting a non-cluster database manually

1. Make sure that you have Manager access in the database ACL.

2. Notify users of the impending deletion and the reason for it.

3. If there are no replicas of the database, make an archive copy of it.

4. Record the file name and path of the original database. This allows you to replace the deleted database with a new database that notifies users that the original database has been deleted.

5. Select the database icon.

6. Select File - Application - Delete.

7. (Optional) Select "Delete all replicas of this database."

8. Click Yes to confirm the deletion.

9. Delete any Mail-In Database documents associated with the deleted database.

10. Remove references to the database in database libraries and bookmarks.

11. Notify users that you have deleted the database.

Archiving an obsolete database

• If users occasionally need to access the database, keep the archive copy on an IBM® Lotus® Domino™ server. If no access or very little access is required, copy the database to a file server or optical disk.
• In the database ACL of the archive copy, assign Manager access to at least two users and assign Reader access to all other users.
• Indicate in the database title and in the About This Database document that the database is an archive copy.
• Notify users of the location of the archive copy.

Glossary