ntfs migrator ECS

[VersEV1]

we looking decommision Netapp storage in australia and want to use EMC ECS elastic cloud storage. can EV NTFS to centera migrator work to go to cloud ECS?

[Mouse]

I think it will be in a grey zone from the compatibility standpoint. Technically, EV depends on Centera CAS API implementation which can be either from Centera or ECS, however compatibility charts are very specific - ECS is supported with Streamer and Centera with CAS. At the same time, there are just too many Dell EMC customers who have already migrated to ECS using CAS-to-CAS migration.

As of the tool, I'm pretty sure it will work but not sure how it will be supported because ECS is not listed as a supported platform for the CAS interface.

[Pradeep-Papnai]

Hi

I don’t think NTFSCenterMigrator.exe will work for ECS partition. This tool can only be used with EMC Centera as a destination partition. In one of my test lab (NTFS-ECS) this tool gives error “The vault store has no partition with an EMC Centera device type” even though I have ECS partition.

You can have following option.

1. Close existing NetApp NTFS partition. Create a new ECS type partition with the status as Open. Now all new data will go to ECS partition and existing data will remain accessible for read operation.
2. Create a new vault store (group then store) where only ECS partition is configured. Perform move archive OR 3 rd party migration tool so all existing archives migrate from old vault store to new vault store.

You can discuss NTFS-ECS migration strategy with VERITAS Partners/consultancy team. They may assist you if any tool exists OR develop for your use case.

Regards

Pradeep Papnai

[VersEV1]

for 2. mentioned. will Move archive properly to centera and associate transactions ids with clip ids? thought only NTFSCenterMigrator.exe could be used

[Pradeep-Papnai]

Hi

The terminology such as CLIP and CDF (Clip descriptor file) associated with EMC Centera only, for ECS it just an object that is replacement of DVS, DVSSP files created by EV. EMC Centera uses its own compression & single instancing model however ECS can use EV SIS if that is configured.

Since there is NO available tool for NTFS to ECS migration, you can either keep using NTFS partition in read only mode with writable partition in ECS OR migrate archives from old vault store to new VS  using in build ‘move archive’ tool.

Move archive tool basically works between vault stores (same or different sites) regardless the storage type of VS partition. Please note move archive tool isn’t designed for large set of migration so consultant/partner can give you better options for such a migration project.

Just to answer your question, TransactionID remain same for move archive & NTFSCenteraMigration however the object reference (Tran..ID to Clip for Cenera, TransID to object for ECS) might differ.

Regards

Pradeep Papnai

[VersEV1]

got you. didn't know Move archive could work. thought centera clips reference in sql complicate things and only NTFStoCenteraMigrator.exe work. so Move archive even work Centera to Netapp, isilon etc?

[Pradeep-Papnai]

Yes, that’s true. Just a summary for better understanding:-

1. Data migration between NTFS based EV partitions (SAN/DAS OR NAS) of supported vendors can be done using copy/paste job then updating SQL entries. The scope of such migration is limited within vault store only. https://www.veritas.com/support/en_US/article.100016652
2. Data migration from NTFS based partition (SAN/DAS OR NAS) to EMC Centera (CAS based) can be done using NTFSCenteraMigration. The scope of such migration is limited within vault store only. Post successful migration to Centera, old NTFS partition can delete.
3. Data migration from NTFS based partition (SAN/DAS OR NAS) to Streamer based storage (eg HCP, ECS, IBM COS…etc) can only be done using move archive OR 3^RD party migration tools. Move archive works between vault stores either in same server, site OR directory. https://www.veritas.com/support/en_US/article.TECH129236
4. Point 3 is also applicable when data migration from EMC Centera, streamer storage to NTFS type of partition is required.