Dell PowerStore Importing External Storage to PowerStore Guide

File-based import workflow

For a file-based import, a file mobility network and file import interface must be configured and the source storage system must be added to the PowerStore cluster prior to creating a file import session. As part of the file import process, the source VDM is pre-validated whether it is ready to be imported. The basic configuration (NAS server name, file systems, production interfaces) of the source file server must not change after the file import session is created. A file import session is not allowed when either a non-disruptive upgrade or a network reconfiguration is in progress.

The following steps show the manual file-based import workflow in PowerStore Manager:

1. Configure the file mobility network.
2. If the remote (source) system does not appear in PowerStore Manager, add the information needed to discover and access the source system (to establish the import connection).
3. Configure the file import interface.
4. Select the NAS server (VDM) to import.
5. Set the schedule for the file import.
6. Assign a protection policy for the file import session.
   NOTE:The protection policy is applied to the NAS Server that contains the individual file systems.
7. Review the summary of the import configuration information for accuracy and completeness.
8. Submit the import job.
   NOTE:NAS server is created on PowerStore Manager and access functions are set up for the source system so that data can be copied from the source VDM to the destination NAS server. If an import session is scheduled to start at a later time, the Import State is shown as Scheduled. However, if two active import sessions (which is the maximum for active import sessions) are running, any new import sessions that are set to start are shown with an Import State of Queued. A maximum of ten import sessions can be scheduled or queued, however, only a maximum of eight import sessions can be scheduled or queued while two import sessions are active.

You can cut over a file import after the session state changes to Ready For Cutover.

The states of a NAS server import and the manual operations that are allowed for those states are as follows:

• Scheduled state – Cancel operation
• Queued state – Cancel operation
• In_Progress state – Cancel operation
• Completed – No manual operations available
• Pausing state – Cancel operation
• Paused state – Resume and Cancel operations
• Cancelling – Cancel operation
• Cancelled – Cancel operation
• Failed – Cancel operation

When a paused file import session is resumed, the following occurs:

• The state changes to In-Progress.
• The copy restarts from the last copied range.