ECS: GeoDrive: How to change a data cache drive

Summary: How to change the GeoDrive cache directory from the Default C drive (system drive) to an alternate drive.

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Instructions

Before beginning, ensure that you have the following:

  • Bucket name
  • aws_access_key_id
  • aws_secret_access_key
  • Confirm that all files have been stubbed.   
  • A Geodrive recovery is initiated to read the files back from ECS to the new-configured data path (Cache Directory).

 

1. Open GeoDrive Console (UI)

2. Locate a virtual drive in GeoDrive.
Locate a virtual drive in GeoDrive

3. Right-click the virtual drive and select Delete.
Right-click the virtual drive and select Delete
Confirm that all files have been stubbed. Files that are not migrated or stubbed requires copying to the new location and is the responsibility of the customer. 
a. Select the first option for, Data path or Cache Directory change procedure. 
  1. Delete local files:  This only removes the GeoDrive managed files from the local cache. Files are still on ECS and are inaccessible until completion of reconfiguration after recovery.
  2. Leave local files: Unlink files from ECS and delete the local stubs. (This option that is mostly used is when a customer is uninstalling GeoDrive and recalling all files from ECS to the local GeoDrive server.)
    1.  This guide illustrates Drive Letter Changes. Select "Delete local Files."
  3. Reference:
    1. Page 37 in PDF Document
    2. Link: Uninstalling GeoDrive
Select option to 'Delete local files'

4. Confirm that the virtual drive is no longer visible (in this guide, the drive is J:).
Confirm that the virtual drive is no longer visible (in this guide, the drive is J:) 
 
5. Reconfigure Virtual Drive in GD console. 

Reference:

    1. Page: 11 in pdf
    2. Link:  Step 2 Configuring the GeoDrive Folder
Click "Home tab" -> "Add GeoDrive icon."
Click "Home tab" -> "Add GeoDrive icon."

 

6. Pay attention on parameters page. (Confirm the new Cache Directory to assign the GeoDrive virtual Drive letter, and storage options to mirror or stub.)
Pay attention on parameters page. (Confirm the new Cache Directory to assign the GeoDrive virtual Drive letter, and storage options to mirror or stub.)

 

7. Configure the Host and Bucket details that are coupled with any other options that are required based on the customer use case.
  1.  Required option: (must be configured) select "write all files and directories to cloud in lower case."  This helps alleviate performance and naming conflicts, UNIX, and LINUX file systems are case-sensitive. Constant conversion of files to match the Windows naming scheme has been seen to impact performance with frequent syncs.
  2. Configure versioning if the site wants to use object versioning.
Configure versioning if the site wants to use object versioning


8. Configure "Advanced" options per customer requirements (see further below regarding Versioning).

  1. Page: Page 14 in GeoDrive Documentation link
  2. Link:  GeoDrive Advanced options field description
GeoDrive advanced options

 

9. GeoDrive Logging is not enabled by default, helpful when investigating data access issues.
GeoDrive Logging is not enabled by default, helpful when investigating data access issues.

 

10: If enabling versioning, create an object life cycle management policy which helps delete old versions that are no longer required.
  1. Reference - ECS Data Access Guide
If enabling versioning, create an object life cycle management policy which helps delete old versions that are no longer required
    1. Add life cycle rules based on the customer's use case for:
    2.  Delete MarkersThis hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies. 
    3.  Clean up for incomplete MPUThis hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies. (Multipart-Upload).
Clean up for incomplete MPU (Multipart-Upload).

 

11: Once complete, GeoDrive initiates Recovery of files, recalling for ECS to the local Cache (Time restore depends on the number of files and size).
Once complete, GeoDrive initiates Recovery of files, recalling for ECS to the local Cache (Time restore depends on number of files and size).

12: Once recovery is complete. Right-click the virtual drive and click "show in explorer." Files should be restored to this new location.
Once recovery is complete. Right-click the virtual drive and click "show in explorer." Files should be restored to this new location.

Affected Products

ECS, GeoDrive for Windows
Article Properties
Article Number: 000195193
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 03 Dec 2025
Version:  3
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