Migrate a File Server to a CTERA Edge Filer
  • 2 Minutes to read
  • PDF

Migrate a File Server to a CTERA Edge Filer

  • PDF

Article summary

With CTERA Migrate, you can migrate a file server to the CTERA Edge Filer. After the migration has completed, end users who are familiar with a given folder structure and shares, as well as a given permission scheme continue to see the same folder structure, shares, and permission scheme. This enables the migration from a current file system to the CTERA Edge Filer without the need to apply any structural changes such as flattening the folder structure or simplifying the permissions scheme.

You can migrate file servers from the following:

  • Azure StorSimple
  • Isilon OneFS
  • Microsoft Azure Files
  • NetApp ONTAP
  • NetAPP StorageGRID 9 (SMB)
  • NetAPP StorageGRID 11 (SMB)
  • Panzura Freedom Filer
  • Windows Server

Another option, Other, is available to attempt to migrate from a file server that is not listed.

In addition you can discover all the shares on the current edge filer by specifying the source as This Edge Filer.

Access to files and folders after the migration is through SMB provided by the CTERA Edge Filer so that users continue to access the files and folders in the same way as with the old system.

When you use CTERA Migrate, as files are migrated they are synced with the portal global file system. If you are migrating more files than there is room for on the edge filer, the files are synced to the portal global file system and they are kept as stub files on the edge filer. The user has access to the global file system, downloading files as required, so that the total storage that the user has access to can be much larger than the storage available on the CTERA Edge Filer.

Note

You can migrate a single file server to the CTERA Edge Filer as a single cloud folder. After the migration, the cloud folder will start with the C: path as it represents a single server with all the shares/nested shares.

Migrating a file server to a CTERA Edge Filer can be performed while the current file server remains in production.

The flow when performing a migration is as follows:
image.png
Before migrating the file server to the CTERA Edge Filer, the CTERA Edge Filer must be connected to the CTERA Portal. After finishing the initial setup, make sure that syncing between the CTERA Edge Filer and CTERA Portal global file system is not suspended.

To migrate a single file server to the CTERA Edge Filer as a single cloud folder involves the following procedures:

After the migration, the cloud folder will start with the C: path as it represents a single server with all the shares/nested shares.

Note

Special characters in share names, % < > * ? | / \ + = ; : " ,, are not supported by CTERA Migrate. When such characters are used, the share contents are not migrated. This condition is reported, and the job is Completed with errors.
Share names that are over 80 characters in length and include the characters % [ ] will not be accessible from Windows clients and should also not be used in share names.


Was this article helpful?