---
title: What happens when you enable replication
description: The dsreplication enable subcommand is used to set up replication. The enable subcommand carries out the following functions:
component: pingdirectory
version: 11.0
page_id: pingdirectory:pingdirectory_server_administration_guide:pd_ds_what_happens_enable_replication
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/11.0/pingdirectory_server_administration_guide/pd_ds_what_happens_enable_replication.html
revdate: September 13, 2023
---

# What happens when you enable replication

The `dsreplication` `enable` subcommand is used to set up replication. The `enable` subcommand carries out the following functions:

* If it does not already exist, the global administrator user is created. The global administrator user has all the rights and privileges to update replication-related configuration objects. Most `dsreplication` subcommands require the global administrator.

* The server instances are registered in the `cn=topology,cn=config` tree. The registration includes basic host name, port information, and the public key used during the replication authentication process.

  If both servers are already participating in replication, the `cn=topology,cn=config` is merged to retain the server information from existing topologies.

* The embedded replication server is enabled. Servers already in replication see their replication server configuration updated with the information of the new replication server.

* A replication domain is created for the requested base distinguished names (DNs). If the first base DN is enabled, the replication domains for two additional base DNs are also enabled: `cn=topology,cn=config` and `cn=schema`.

* Initialization for the `cn=schema` base DN is executed. This ensures that a uniform schema is present in the replication topology.

* Initialization must be performed for the enabled base DNs.

|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| - | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | The `dsreplication` `enable` subcommand removes all existing topology administrative users except for the default `uid=admin` that is provided to enable replication. Administrative users must be re-added after enabling replication. |