Storage Pool Migration

[TMroy]

What is Storage Pool Migration?
Storage pool migration refers to the process of transferring an entire storage pool from a device with different models or different hardware platforms to a new device. During this process, there is no need to make any modifications to the system or array configuration, and the storage pool can be used directly, allowing for the retrieval of data. The term "different hardware platforms" here primarily refers to x86 hardware platforms and ARM hardware platforms. Through storage pool migration, users can effortlessly migrate data to a new device, facilitating hardware upgrades or replacements while maintaining the integrity and availability of the data. This is a highly practical technology that greatly simplifies the management and maintenance of storage devices.


Storage Pool Migration Requirements
When conducting a storage pool migration, the following conditions must be met:
1. Scope of Application: Storage pool migration is applicable only for migration within the TerraMaster TNAS product line and is not suitable for products from other brands.
2. Destination Device Requirements: The number of disk slots on the target device should be no less than the original storage pool's disk quantity plus one. This implies that the target device's disk slots must exceed the quantity of disks in the original storage pool.
3. Operating System Requirements: The target device must have at least one system disk installed and be running an operating system not lower than TOS 6.0.x.
4. Original Storage Pool Version Requirements: The original storage pool being migrated must have been created on a device running TOS 5.1.67 or a later version of the system.

Note: If the number of disk slots on the target device exactly matches the quantity of disks in the original storage pool, the migrated storage pool cannot be directly used. In this case, you need to reinstall the TOS 6.0.x operating system on the migrated storage pool. Please be aware that reinstalling the system will result in the loss of all previous system configurations. For installation instructions, refer to the official guide "How to Reinstall the TOS System?" Ensure to carefully verify the above conditions before initiating the storage pool migration to ensure a smooth process.

Benefits of Storage Pool Migration
Before the release of TOS 6, for users who needed to migrate storage pools between devices with different hardware platforms, the process was quite complex and challenging. Typically, it required technical professionals to manually mount arrays and modify array configurations through command-line operations, presenting a significant challenge for ordinary users.

However, with the release of TOS 6, the difficulty of storage pool migration has been significantly reduced, making it now easily achievable even for general users. This change not only simplifies the operation process but also makes hardware upgrades and replacements much simpler and more straightforward.

Therefore, the primary benefits of storage pool migration lie in greatly enhancing the convenience of hardware upgrades and replacements. It allows users to effortlessly use their existing storage pool on new devices without dealing with complex configurations and migration processes. This improvement not only saves users time and effort but also reduces the risk of data loss due to the complexity of the migration process.

How to Perform Storage Pool Migration?
Follow these steps to conduct storage pool migration:
1. First, ensure that both the original and target devices are powered off.
2. Carefully remove all disks from the original device.
3. Insert these disks into the slots of the target device. Note that the disk placement order is not strictly required.
4. Finally, power on the target device. Upon startup, the device should automatically recognize the original storage pool and volumes.

Notes:
Due to potential conflicts between the sequence numbers of the original storage pool and volumes and those on the target device, the sequence numbers of the original storage pool and volumes may be changed after migration. Before performing the migration, make sure to back up the data and appropriately label them. This ensures smooth identification and management of storage pools and volumes after migration.