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Dell PowerStore Importing External Storage to PowerStore Guide

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Configure a file-based import

Prerequisites

Ensure the following conditions exist on the PowerStore cluster before running a file import:

  • The global storage IP address for the PowerStore cluster is configured.
  • The PowerStore cluster and its nodes are in a healthy state.

Ensure the following on the source system:

  • The source storage system has been added to the PowerStore configuration before creating a file import session.
    NOTE: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.
  • The source VNX VDM has at least one client network interface, and exactly one attached network interface named nas_migration_<name>, where <name> is a unique name provided to the interface, such as nas_migration_vdm2.
    NOTE:The PowerStore import application uses this interface throughout the migration. This interface must be added to the CIFS Server in a separate subdomain to ensure that any hosts querying the DNS will not be directed to the migration interface. The VDM must contain only a single CIFS Server and no NFS exports and there can be no host access on the NAS migration interface.
  • There can be no host access on the NAS migration interface. Either disable SMB2 Multi-channel feature, or add the NAS migration interface into a separate subnet.
  • Verify that the physical Data Mover on which the source VDM is located has at least one IP Interface configured that is not attached to the VDM being migrated. This ensures that the source Data Mover can provide uninterrupted Name Services for the remaining file servers. The file import session will fail if this additional interface is not present.
  • If the remote system needs to be added during the configuration, determine whether an iSCSI connection or a FC connection will exist between the Dell VNX2 source system and the PowerStore cluster.

It is recommended that the same NTP server is used on the source system, which hosts the source storage resource, and the destination PowerStore cluster. This configuration should provide the proper time synchronization between the source system and the destination PowerStore cluster.

Determine the schedule of the import:

  • Immediately or set a time and date
    NOTE: When you configure an import and select a date and time for the import session to begin, do not schedule the import to begin within 15 minutes of the current time.
  • Whether to automatically cutover to the destination after import

For importing FLR enabled file systems, determine the administrative username and password credentials to access the source DHSM.

Determine which file import interface to use for the import.

NOTE:If the file import interface does not exist, you can create it while creating the import session.

Determine which protection policy to assign to the VDM to be imported.

About this task

To configure a file-based import, do the following:

Steps

  1. Log in to PowerStore Manager.
  2. Under Migration, select Import External Storage.
    The Import External Storage page appears.
  3. If the intended source system does not appear in the list of remote systems, select Add Remote System and specify the relevant information for the remote system (also known as the import connection). Otherwise, go to the next step.
  4. To configure a file-based import session, select a source system from the list of remote systems on your network that you have previously entered manually in to PowerStore Manager.
  5. Select Import NAS Server.
    The Import NAS Servers from Source Array wizard appears.
  6. Step through the wizard and specify the relevant information.
    NOTE:Only source VDMs that have a status of Ready can be imported.
    Once you have specified the necessary information, the system generates a summary of the import session information.
  7. Verify that the import session information in the summary is accurate and complete.
  8. Click Ok.
    NOTE: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. Sometimes ongoing operations on the source system can cause some queued import sessions that become active to fail. In these cases, wait a few minutes and try the import again.
    NOTE:When importing several VDMs at the same time, if anyone of those VDMs is not configured correctly and causes an IP address conflict, the import session for that VDM will fail and may cause another of those VDM import sessions to fail. You must resolve the VDM IP address conflict to complete the import.
    The VDM should progress to the Ready For Cutover state.
  9. To view the progress of ongoing file import sessions, under Migration select Import External Storage and then select File Imports.
    NOTE:If the file system on the destination system is low on space (reaches 95% of capacity) during import, import of the source file system will fail. In this case you can either ensure that enough space is available and run Resume or Cancel the import session.

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