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Importing an exported volume from another NAS - How?
Hi,
I currently have 2x RN102s. The first NAS has a 3TB and a 4TB drive (two volumes, no RAID), and the second NAS has a single 6TB drive. I would like to upgrade the first unit by replacing the 4TB drive with a newly purchased 6TB drive, and move the 4TB drive (with the data intact) to the second NAS.
From what I have gathered I can EXPORT the 4TB volume to prepare it for moving, but there is little information about how to import the drive on the second unit. The export documentation refers to a 'cold import' but there is no information on what that is and how it works. Is it simply a matter of inserting the drive and powering on NAS2? Will the volume just appear on the 2nd NAS with all data intact? Or is there more to this process?
Thanks in advance.
Export it. Otherwise the volume will continue to show up (as inactive) in the old NAS. Then insert the disks in the target NAS with the NAS powered down.
It is supposed be added automatically when you power it back up. You will run into a problem if there's a volume in the target NAS that has the same name. Whether that's the case or not, I suggest making a backup, just in case something goes wrong with the process.
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So, I have just found an article (https://kb.netgear.com/22895/ReadyNAS-OS-6-Migrating-a-volume) which suggests that what I might be after is just a simple 'volume migration' that would only require removing the 4TB volume and inserting it into the other NAS - ie: no export required.
Now I am even more confused. If I want to migrate the drive (volume) with data intact, should I EXPORT the volume or just physically move the disk (while both units are powered off)?
Thanks
Export it. Otherwise the volume will continue to show up (as inactive) in the old NAS. Then insert the disks in the target NAS with the NAS powered down.
It is supposed be added automatically when you power it back up. You will run into a problem if there's a volume in the target NAS that has the same name. Whether that's the case or not, I suggest making a backup, just in case something goes wrong with the process.
StephenB wrote:Export it. Otherwise the volume will continue to show up (as inactive) in the old NAS. Then insert the disks in the target NAS with the NAS powered down.
It is supposed be added automatically when you power it back up. You will run into a problem if there's a volume in the target NAS that has the same name. Whether that's the case or not, I suggest making a backup, just in case something goes wrong with the process.
Hold on. Will that be your primary (or only) volume on the new NAS? If so, don't export it, just migrate it. Then, if it wasn't the only one on the old NAS, DESTROY the now-missing volume on the old one and any additional volumes that show up on the new one.
I have run several experiments on exportation and importation and have learned a few things. See here: Experiments-with-exporting-and-importing-a-volume-in-OS6-7-1
Export is apparently not intended for volumes that will become a primary volume on the target NAS. You cannot install just an exported volume in a NAS and have it boot. You can install an exported volume as an additional volume unless it has the same name as ones already on the importing NAS. If the imported volume has shares with the same names as shares on any volume prior to import, you won't see them except in SSH. Import is automatic when the NAS is powered on with the drives containing the imported volume and another primary volume is powered on if there is not a volume name conflict.
I have since seen something indicating that an OS re-install might make an exported volume act as a primary one, but I've not tried it.
If import is the right move for you except that the volume has the same name as another, this might help: Changing-the-volume-name-on-an-OS6-based-NAS
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