Learn About Disk Group Migration

Disk group migration lets you export a disk group so that you can import the disk group to a different storage array. You can also export a disk group so that you can store the data offline.

Attention:

Possible loss of data access – You must export a disk group before you move the disk group or import the disk group.

Export Disk Group

The export disk group operation prepares the physical disks in the disk group for removal. You can remove the physical disks for offline storage, or you can import the disk group to a different storage array. After you complete the export disk group operation, all of the physical disks are offline. Any associated virtual disks or free capacity nodes are no longer shown in the MD Storage Manager Software.

Non-Exportable Components

You must remove any non-exportable components before you can complete the export disk group procedure. You must remove these components:

Basic Export Steps for a Disk Group

Exporting a disk group includes these steps on the source storage array:

  1. Save the storage array configuration.
  2. Stop all I/O, and unmount or disconnect the file systems on the virtual disks in the disk group.
  3. Back up the data on the virtual disks in the disk group.
  4. Locate the disk group, and label the physical disks.
  5. Place the disk group offline.
  6. Obtain blank physical disk modules or new physical disks.

Exporting a disk group includes these steps on the target storage array:

  1. Make sure that the target storage array has available physical disk slots.
  2. Make sure that the target storage array supports the physical disks that you will import.
  3. Make sure that the target storage array can support the new virtual disks.
  4. Make sure that the latest version of firmware is installed on the RAID controller module.

Import Disk Group

The import disk group operation adds the imported disk group to the target storage array. After you complete the import disk group operation, all of the physical disks have Optimal status. Any associated virtual disks or free capacity nodes are now shown in the MD Storage Manager Software installed on the target storage array.

Basic Import Steps for a Disk Group

Important:

You must insert all of the physical disks in the disk group into the enclosure before the disk group can be imported.

Importing a disk group includes these steps on the target storage array:

  1. Insert the exported physical disks into the available physical disk slots.
  2. Review the Import Report for an overview of the disk group that you are importing.
  3. Check for non-importable components.
  4. Confirm that you want to proceed with the import procedure.

Non-Importable Components

Some components cannot be imported during the import disk group procedure. These components are removed during the procedure: