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Data Migration Using Robocopy

Created by: Nasuni Support Last update: 6/14/2011

Contents
Overview ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Using Robocopy to copy data to the Nasuni Filer....................................................................................... 2

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Resizing the Cache and Snapshots Disks in Nasuni Filer v2.7 Robocopy and the Nasuni Filer cache ............................................................................................................. 2 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Overview
The information in this document applies to Nasuni Filer 2.x versions. It explains how to use Robocopy, a Microsoft Windows tool, to migrate data from a Windows file server to the Nasuni Filer. Robocopy has been bundled with Windows operating systems since Vista and Server 2008.

Using Robocopy to copy data to the Nasuni Filer

Robocopy is a Windows command line tool. To migrate data to the Nasuni Filer using Robocopy follow the steps below. 1. Identify the data set you want to migrate to the Nasuni Filer 2. Create/locate a share on the Nasuni Filer to write your data set to 3. Run cmd.exe 4. Run the command below from the source servers command line. robocopy (path to source data) (path to Filer share) /E /FFT /R:60 /W:60. Robocopy switches detailed below. /E: copies subfolders including empty folders /FFT: assumes FAT file times, important when copying data to the Nasuni Filer /R:60: number of retries /W:60: wait time between retries (seconds) NOTE: Filer volumes are not NTFS. Robocopy will only copy NTFS security information to NTFS volumes. You can manage folder and file NTFS permissions on Nasuni Filer once your data migration is complete.

Robocopy and the Nasuni Filer cache

If the amount of data you are to migrating to the Nasuni Filer is larger than your Filer cache size robocopy will completely fill your Filer cache during your data migration. When the Nasuni Filer cache is full robocopy writes will fail until Filer successfully snapshots recently written data.

Resizing the Cache and Snapshots Disks in Nasuni Filer v2.7 Users will be unable to read data that is in a Nasuni Filer snapshot but is not in the Filer cache when Filer is in the cache full state.

Conclusion
Robocopy is an effective tool for migrating data from a Windows file server to the Nasuni Filer. If you have questions about this document contact Nasuni Support at support@nasuni.com or (888) 662-78644.