diff --git a/src/common/mfu_daos.c b/src/common/mfu_daos.c
index f15b0820..2dbf8cf5 100644
--- a/src/common/mfu_daos.c
+++ b/src/common/mfu_daos.c
@@ -308,6 +308,9 @@ int daos_parse_path(
         } else {
             strncpy(path, dattr.da_rel_path, path_len);
         }
+    } else if (strncmp(path, "daos:", 5) == 0) {
+        /* Actual error, since we expect a daos path */
+        rc = -1;
     } else {
         /* If basename does not exist yet then duns_resolve_path will fail even
         * if dirname is a UNS path */
@@ -354,9 +357,6 @@ int daos_parse_path(
             snprintf(*pool_str, DAOS_PROP_LABEL_MAX_LEN + 1, "%s", dattr.da_pool);
             snprintf(*cont_str, DAOS_PROP_LABEL_MAX_LEN + 1, "%s", dattr.da_cont);
             strncpy(path, dattr.da_rel_path, path_len);
-        } else if (strncmp(path, "daos:", 5) == 0) {
-            /* Actual error, since we expect a daos path */
-            rc = -1;
         } else {
             /* We didn't parse a daos path,
             * but we weren't necessarily looking for one */
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ static int daos_set_paths(
     return rc;
 }
 
-static int daos_get_cont_type(
+static int mfu_daos_get_cont_type(
     daos_handle_t coh,
     enum daos_cont_props* type)
 {
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ static int daos_check_cont_status(daos_handle_t coh, bool *status_healthy)
  * Try to set the file type based on the container type,
  * using api as a guide.
  */
-static int daos_set_api_cont_type(
+static int mfu_daos_set_api_cont_type(
     mfu_file_t* mfu_file,
     enum daos_cont_props cont_type,
     daos_api_t api)
@@ -1013,7 +1013,7 @@ void daos_bcast_handle(
 }
 
 /* connect to DAOS pool, and then open container */
-int daos_connect(
+int mfu_daos_connect(
   int rank,
   daos_args_t* da,
   char (*pool)[],
@@ -1022,7 +1022,9 @@ int daos_connect(
   daos_handle_t* coh,
   bool force_serialize,
   bool connect_pool,
+  unsigned int pool_connect_flags,
   bool create_cont,
+  unsigned int cont_open_flags,
   bool require_new_cont,
   bool preserve,
   mfu_file_t* mfu_src_file,
@@ -1059,12 +1061,12 @@ int daos_connect(
         }
 #endif
         /* Connect to DAOS pool */
-        if (connect_pool) {
+        if (connect_pool && !daos_handle_is_valid(*poh)) {
             daos_pool_info_t pool_info = {0};
 #if DAOS_API_VERSION_MAJOR < 1
-            rc = daos_pool_connect(*pool, NULL, NULL, DAOS_PC_RW, poh, &pool_info, NULL);
+            rc = daos_pool_connect(*pool, NULL, NULL, pool_connect_flags, poh, &pool_info, NULL);
 #else
-            rc = daos_pool_connect(*pool, NULL, DAOS_PC_RW, poh, &pool_info, NULL);
+            rc = daos_pool_connect(*pool, NULL, pool_connect_flags, poh, &pool_info, NULL);
 #endif
             if (rc != 0) {
                 MFU_LOG(MFU_LOG_ERR, "Failed to connect to pool: "DF_RC, DP_RC(rc));
@@ -1082,9 +1084,9 @@ int daos_connect(
              * not generated */
             char cont_str[130];
             uuid_unparse(da->dst_cont_uuid, cont_str);
-            rc = daos_cont_open(*poh, cont_str, DAOS_COO_RW, coh, &co_info, NULL);
+            rc = daos_cont_open(*poh, cont_str, cont_open_flags, coh, &co_info, NULL);
         } else {
-            rc = daos_cont_open(*poh, *cont, DAOS_COO_RW, coh, &co_info, NULL);
+            rc = daos_cont_open(*poh, *cont, cont_open_flags, coh, &co_info, NULL);
         }
         if (rc != 0) {
             if (rc != -DER_NONEXIST || !create_cont) {
@@ -1146,7 +1148,7 @@ int daos_connect(
                     /* if nothing is passed in for destination a uuid is always
                      * generated unless user passed one in, destination container
                      * labels are not generated */
-                    rc = dfs_cont_create(*poh, da->dst_cont_uuid, &attr, NULL, NULL);
+                    rc = dfs_cont_create(*poh, &da->dst_cont_uuid, &attr, NULL, NULL);
                 }
                 if (rc != 0) {
                     MFU_LOG(MFU_LOG_ERR, "Failed to create container: (%d %s)", rc, strerror(rc));
@@ -1156,7 +1158,7 @@ int daos_connect(
                 if (dst_cont_passed && !is_uuid) {
                     rc = daos_cont_create_with_label(*poh, *cont, props, &da->dst_cont_uuid, NULL);
                 } else {
-                    rc = daos_cont_create(*poh, da->dst_cont_uuid, props, NULL);
+                    rc = daos_cont_create(*poh, &da->dst_cont_uuid, props, NULL);
                 }
                 if (rc != 0) {
                     MFU_LOG(MFU_LOG_ERR, "Failed to create container: "DF_RC, DP_RC(rc));
@@ -1174,11 +1176,11 @@ int daos_connect(
 
             /* try to open it again */
             if (dst_cont_passed && !is_uuid) {
-                rc = daos_cont_open(*poh, *cont, DAOS_COO_RW, coh, &co_info, NULL);
+                rc = daos_cont_open(*poh, *cont, cont_open_flags, coh, &co_info, NULL);
             } else {
                 char cont_str[130];
                 uuid_unparse(da->dst_cont_uuid, cont_str);
-                rc = daos_cont_open(*poh, cont_str, DAOS_COO_RW, coh, &co_info, NULL);
+                rc = daos_cont_open(*poh, cont_str, cont_open_flags, coh, &co_info, NULL);
             }
             if (rc != 0) {
                 MFU_LOG(MFU_LOG_ERR, "Failed to open container: "DF_RC, DP_RC(rc));
@@ -1554,8 +1556,7 @@ int daos_setup(
     }
 
     /* Make sure there weren't any errors before continuing.
-     * Since daos_connect has a collective broadcast.
-     * we have to make sure same_pool below is valid. */
+     * Since mfu_daos_connect has a collective broadcast. */
     if (daos_any_error(rank, local_daos_error, flag_daos_args)) {
         tmp_rc = daos_fini();
         return 1;
@@ -1569,10 +1570,16 @@ int daos_setup(
     bool have_src_cont  = strlen(da->src_cont) > 0 ? true : false;
     bool have_dst_pool  = strlen(da->dst_pool) > 0 ? true : false;
 
-    /* Check if containers are in the same pool */
-    bool same_pool = (strcmp(da->src_pool, da->dst_pool) == 0);
+    /* Need W on destination pools for creating a container */
+    unsigned int src_pool_connect_flags = DAOS_PC_RO;
+    unsigned int dst_pool_connect_flags = DAOS_PC_RW;
+
+    /* For POSIX containers, the source only needs read, but the destination needs read and write.
+     * For DAOS (object-level), both containers need read and write.
+     * Open the source with RO first, then elevate to RW if needed below. */
+    unsigned int src_cont_open_flags = DAOS_COO_RO;
+    unsigned int dst_cont_open_flags = DAOS_COO_RW;
 
-    bool connect_pool = true;
     bool create_cont = false;
     bool require_new_cont = false;
     bool preserve = false;
@@ -1587,28 +1594,52 @@ int daos_setup(
             local_daos_error = true;
             goto out;
         }
-        tmp_rc = daos_connect(rank, da, &da->src_pool, &da->src_cont,
-                              &da->src_poh, &da->src_coh, false,
-                              connect_pool, create_cont, require_new_cont,
-                              preserve, mfu_src_file, dst_cont_passed);
+        tmp_rc = mfu_daos_connect(rank, da, &da->src_pool, &da->src_cont,
+                                  &da->src_poh, &da->src_coh, false,
+                                  true, src_pool_connect_flags, create_cont, src_cont_open_flags, require_new_cont,
+                                  preserve, mfu_src_file, dst_cont_passed);
         if (tmp_rc != 0) {
-            /* tmp_rc from daos_connect is collective */
+            /* tmp_rc from mfu_daos_connect is collective */
             local_daos_error = true;
             goto out;
         }
         /* Get the container type */
-        tmp_rc = daos_get_cont_type(da->src_coh, &da->src_cont_type);
+        tmp_rc = mfu_daos_get_cont_type(da->src_coh, &da->src_cont_type);
         if (tmp_rc != 0) {
             /* ideally, this should be the same for each process */
             local_daos_error = true;
             goto out;
         }
         /* Set the src api based on the container type */
-        tmp_rc = daos_set_api_cont_type(mfu_src_file, da->src_cont_type, da->api);
+        tmp_rc = mfu_daos_set_api_cont_type(mfu_src_file, da->src_cont_type, da->api);
         if (tmp_rc != 0) {
             local_daos_error = true;
             goto out;
         }
+        /* If using the DAOS API, we need to elevate permissions to RW for creating a snapshot */
+        if (mfu_src_file->type == DAOS) {
+            MPI_Barrier(MPI_COMM_WORLD);
+
+            tmp_rc = daos_cont_close(da->src_coh, NULL);
+            if (tmp_rc != 0) {
+                local_daos_error = true;
+                goto out;
+            }
+            da->src_coh = DAOS_HDL_INVAL;
+
+            /* Re-open with RW */
+            src_cont_open_flags = DAOS_COO_RW;
+            tmp_rc = mfu_daos_connect(rank, da, &da->src_pool, &da->src_cont,
+                                      &da->src_poh, &da->src_coh, false,
+                                      true, src_pool_connect_flags, create_cont, src_cont_open_flags, require_new_cont,
+                                      preserve, mfu_src_file, dst_cont_passed);
+            if (tmp_rc != 0) {
+                /* tmp_rc from mfu_daos_connect is collective */
+                local_daos_error = true;
+                goto out;
+            }
+        }
+
         /* Sanity check before we create a new container */
         if (da->src_cont_type != DAOS_PROP_CO_LAYOUT_POSIX) {
             if (strcmp(da->src_path, "/") != 0) {
@@ -1622,7 +1653,7 @@ int daos_setup(
     }
 
     /* If we're using the DAOS API, the destination container cannot
-     * exist already, unless overriden by allow_exist_dst_cont. */
+     * exist already, unless overridden by allow_exist_dst_cont. */
     if (mfu_src_file->type != POSIX && mfu_src_file->type != DFS && !da->allow_exist_dst_cont) {
         require_new_cont = true;
     }
@@ -1646,11 +1677,11 @@ int daos_setup(
         create_cont = true;
         /* do check that src is POSIX and since dst has a pool,
          * then the dst *should* always be DFS, but this is not set
-         * on the destintaion until after daos_connect is called, and
+         * on the destintaion until after mfu_daos_connect is called, and
          * we should read the properties *before* the container is
          * created. We do not have the destination container type
          * here yet which is why extra check is used then passed
-         * to daos_connect */
+         * to mfu_daos_connect */
         if (da->daos_preserve) {
             if (mfu_src_file->type == POSIX) {
                 preserve = true; 
@@ -1662,26 +1693,17 @@ int daos_setup(
                 goto out;
             }
         }
-        if (same_pool) {
-            connect_pool = false;
-            tmp_rc = daos_connect(rank, da, &da->dst_pool, &da->dst_cont,
-                                  &da->src_poh, &da->dst_coh, false,
-                                  connect_pool, create_cont, require_new_cont,
-                                  preserve, mfu_src_file, dst_cont_passed);
-        } else {
-            connect_pool = true;
-            tmp_rc = daos_connect(rank, da, &da->dst_pool, &da->dst_cont,
+        tmp_rc = mfu_daos_connect(rank, da, &da->dst_pool, &da->dst_cont,
                                   &da->dst_poh, &da->dst_coh, false,
-                                  connect_pool, create_cont, require_new_cont,
-                                  preserve, mfu_src_file, dst_cont_passed);
-        }
+                                  true, dst_pool_connect_flags, create_cont, dst_cont_open_flags,
+                                  require_new_cont, preserve, mfu_src_file, dst_cont_passed);
         if (tmp_rc != 0) {
-            /* tmp_rc from daos_connect is collective */
+            /* tmp_rc from mfu_daos_connect is collective */
             local_daos_error = true;
             goto out;
         }
         /* Get the container type */
-        tmp_rc = daos_get_cont_type(da->dst_coh, &da->dst_cont_type);
+        tmp_rc = mfu_daos_get_cont_type(da->dst_coh, &da->dst_cont_type);
         if (tmp_rc != 0) {
             /* ideally, this should be the same for each process */
             local_daos_error = true;
@@ -1689,7 +1711,7 @@ int daos_setup(
         }
         if (have_dst) {
             /* Set the dst api based on the container type */
-            tmp_rc = daos_set_api_cont_type(mfu_dst_file, da->dst_cont_type, da->api);
+            tmp_rc = mfu_daos_set_api_cont_type(mfu_dst_file, da->dst_cont_type, da->api);
             if (tmp_rc != 0) {
                 local_daos_error = true;
                 goto out;
@@ -1716,11 +1738,7 @@ int daos_setup(
     if (have_dst) {
         /* Mount destination DFS container */
         if (mfu_dst_file->type == DFS) {
-            if (same_pool) {
-                tmp_rc = mfu_dfs_mount(mfu_dst_file, &da->src_poh, &da->dst_coh);
-            } else {
-                tmp_rc = mfu_dfs_mount(mfu_dst_file, &da->dst_poh, &da->dst_coh);
-            }
+            tmp_rc = mfu_dfs_mount(mfu_dst_file, &da->dst_poh, &da->dst_coh);
             if (tmp_rc != 0) {
                 local_daos_error = true;
                 goto out;
@@ -1767,8 +1785,6 @@ int daos_cleanup(
     int rank;
     MPI_Comm_rank(MPI_COMM_WORLD, &rank);
 
-    bool same_pool = (strcmp(da->src_pool, da->dst_pool) == 0);
-
     /* Destroy source snapshot */
     if (rank == 0 && da->src_epc != 0) {
         tmp_rc = mfu_daos_destroy_snap(da->src_coh, da->src_epc);
@@ -1837,7 +1853,7 @@ int daos_cleanup(
     }
 
     /* Close destination pool */
-    if (daos_handle_is_valid(da->dst_poh) && !same_pool) {
+    if (daos_handle_is_valid(da->dst_poh)) {
         tmp_rc = daos_pool_disconnect(da->dst_poh, NULL);
         if (tmp_rc != 0) {
             MFU_LOG(MFU_LOG_ERR, "Failed to disconnect from destination pool "DF_RC, DP_RC(tmp_rc));
diff --git a/src/common/mfu_daos.h b/src/common/mfu_daos.h
index 4ebb96bd..ab7ec66a 100644
--- a/src/common/mfu_daos.h
+++ b/src/common/mfu_daos.h
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ int daos_parse_path(
 
 /* connect to DAOS pool,
  * and then open container */
-int daos_connect(
+int mfu_daos_connect(
   int rank,
   daos_args_t* da,
   char (*pool)[],
@@ -310,7 +310,9 @@ int daos_connect(
   daos_handle_t* coh,
   bool force_serialize,
   bool connect_pool,
+  unsigned int pool_connect_flags,
   bool create_cont,
+  unsigned int cont_open_flags,
   bool require_new_cont,
   bool preserve,
   mfu_file_t* mfu_src_file,
diff --git a/src/daos-serialize/daos-serialize.c b/src/daos-serialize/daos-serialize.c
index f70f2c78..fc40892d 100644
--- a/src/daos-serialize/daos-serialize.c
+++ b/src/daos-serialize/daos-serialize.c
@@ -153,10 +153,10 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
          rc = 1;
     }
     
-    tmp_rc = daos_connect(rank, daos_args, &daos_args->src_pool,
-                          &daos_args->src_cont, &daos_args->src_poh,
-                          &daos_args->src_coh, force_serialize, true,
-                          false, false, false, NULL, true);
+    tmp_rc = mfu_daos_connect(rank, daos_args, &daos_args->src_pool,
+                              &daos_args->src_cont, &daos_args->src_poh,
+                              &daos_args->src_coh, force_serialize, true, DAOS_PC_RW,
+                              false, DAOS_COO_RW, false, false, NULL, true);
     if (tmp_rc != 0) {
         daos_fini();
         mfu_finalize();