Migration: ReadyNAS Ultra 2 to ReadyNAS 212 (2x2TB HDD to 2x500GB SSDs)
Migration: ReadyNAS Ultra 2 to ReadyNAS 212 (2x2TB HDD to 2x500GB SSDs)
I will be migrating the network storage from a ReadyNAS Ultra 2 to a ReadyNAS 212.
The new device will have new drives. The new storage is proportionate to what is needed.
Is there guidance somewhere to make the migrations, preserving configuration, users, labelling, privileges, &c.? Of course, I would like to migrate the files with all their current attributes.
I do not use the built-in cloud backup, as it had yearly stalls, and finally failed about a year ago on the Ultra 2, and there are very independent and more flexible systems available.
Re: Migration: ReadyNAS Ultra 2 to ReadyNAS 212 (2x2TB HDD to 2x500GB SSDs)
This, unfortunately, is another place Netgear really dropped the ball, because the answer is no, there is no guidance because it really can't be done. You cannot move the list of users and groups from an older NAS to a newer one, because there are a different set of default users and groups. And since you can't migrate those, you can't move the files with permissions intact.
It's all a manual process of re-creating a duplicate environment on the new NAS as best you can.
While that's not a really big deal for a typical home user (and you are migrating between systems intended mainly for home use), it's not acceptable for a business. But, apparently, Netgear doesn't really understand how to properly attract a business customer following.
Attach both devices to the network (possible?) ...
Robocopy with /COPYALL (/COPYALL : Copy ALL file info (equivalent to /COPY: DATSOU))
This will copy files. but it is more efficient to use the rsync backup jobs in the web ui (one for each share). Your way copies everything to the PC and then back to the RN212. Rsync goes directly from one NAS to the other.
But neither method migrates your configuration. You will need to manually configure user accounts and shares in the NAS.
To transfer file ownership properly, you'll need to make sure the users have matching UIDs and groups have matching GIDs. That will get you most of the way there. Guest/nobody/nogroup use different UIDs and GIDs in the two NAS, and there is no way to map those.
I'd begin by reconsidering whether you really need to transfer file permissions and file ownership. For most use cases, getting the network permissions correct for a share is sufficient (allowing "everyone" access to the files themselves). That is much easier to do.
What I did for my own NAS is reset all the shares on the OS 4.2 system to be owned by admin/admin. Then I transfered the files over to shares on the OS 6 NAS (which also had been configured to admin/admin). After that, you can change the owner/group of the share on the RN212 if you wish. Though I haven't needed to do that.
Re: Migration: ReadyNAS Ultra 2 to ReadyNAS 212 (2x2TB HDD to 2x500GB SSDs)
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll have to look into Rsync.
However, about a year ago my (ancient RNDU2120) Ultra 2 lost its ability to backup online reliably, and Netgear customer service was never able to remedy it. I had to cancel their backup service - that's when I started with Opendrive.
The only critical data that needs to be preserved are creation and modification dates. Owner/group problems have occurred in the past, blocking editing, and I am not certain how I cured them in the past. Ownership is not critical.
Thanks for your help - all suggestions are appreciated.
However, about a year ago my (ancient RNDU2120) Ultra 2 lost its ability to backup online reliably, and Netgear customer service was never able to remedy it. I had to cancel their backup service - that's when I started with Opendrive.
Was that Vault?
Rsync backup jobs don't use any cloud services. Rsync is a linux utility that's been around for a very long time. You just set up the backup job in Frontview, and select rsync as the protocol. And of course rsync needs to be enabled on the remote share.
