Simplifying cloud data migration
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Mike McNamara
Cloud data migration presents significant challenges, often requiring considerable time and resources. Organizations typically rely on open-source tools, which may lack comprehensive support, necessitating additional custom automation scripts. There is a pressing demand for an all-encompassing migration tool capable of handling various protocols and cloud endpoints, one that doesn't necessitate a broad range of technical skills. Moreover, detailed monitoring, reporting, and validation processes are crucial to ensure data integrity throughout the migration.
Introducing NetApp Data Migrator
NetApp has introduced the NetApp Data Migrator (NDM), a feature-rich, on-premises and multi-cloud, multi-protocol data migration app that simplifies the process for storage architects, cloud migration partners, and professional services organizations. NDM facilitates the transfer of enterprise data to first-party native and third-party cloud storage services, including Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP, Azure NetApp Files, Google Cloud NetApp Volumes, and Cloud Volumes ONTAP.
NDM stands out by supporting both NFS and SMB migrations in a single platform. It provides the flexibility to configure migrations to your requirements, schedule transfers, and monitor progress through a live dashboard that clearly highlights any errors encountered during the transfer. With comprehensive logging, reporting, and validation, along with storage discovery for planning and Chain‑of‑Custody (COC) report generation for auditing, NDM enables efficient and reliable migrations without requiring deep technical expertise.
NetApp Data Migrator caters to both existing and potential first- and third-party cloud storage customers looking to migrate from on-premises or public storage systems. It is especially helpful for teams supporting clients with their data migration projects, particularly when those clients lack the time, resources, or expertise to handle migrations independently.
Value proposition
Intuitive and secure data migration management across Clouds
NetApp Data Migrator delivers a user-friendly, multi-protocol, multi-cloud migration service with an intuitive interface. Users can effortlessly discover their files, create migration plans, and monitor migration jobs. NDM includes robust logging and auditing features that aid in issue identification and resolution. NDM also allows ongoing operations at the source site, facilitating a more efficient cutover by copying incremental changes, thus ensuring a smooth cloud transition. Post-migration, NDM generates Chain-of-Custody (CoC) reports to validate file-level integrity and confirm that the content on the destination matches the source.
Ease of setup and secure role management
NetApp Data Migrator is delivered as a prepackaged virtual machine image, making installation and setup fast and straightforward. Users simply deploy the provided VM and attach worker nodes (data movers) to boost performance, enabling highspeed and concurrent data transfers throughout the migration. For secure operations, NDM supports granular access control through role-based permissions. Administrators can assign predefined roles, including Application Admin, Project Admin, and Project Viewer, to regulate access and ensure proper governance across migration projects.
Enhanced control and flexibility in data migration operations
Before migration, NetApp Data Migrator performs pre-checks to ensure all required permissions and dependencies are in place. Users can customize the migration job by choosing various parameters like preserving access time, excluding specific files, preserving permissions, performing SID/GID/UID mapping, and scheduling data transfers. NDM offers flexibility to pause, resume, or cancel migration jobs as needed. Additionally, the source site can remain active during migration, minimizing downtime and maintaining business operations. In case of errors, NDM will strive to complete the job, with error logs available for troubleshooting. The final cutover phase moves all remaining incremental data, ensuring the migration is fully synchronized.
Summary and further resources
NetApp Data Migrator addresses the complexities of cloud migration, equipping customers with the necessary tools for a successful and secure transition to NetApp first-party and third-party cloud storage services. With NDM, organizations can confidently migrate their data within their time and budget constraints using a single, straightforward interface.
To get in touch with the NDM product team at NetApp, fill out this form with a few details on your migration project, and to explore more, read these docs.
Mike McNamara
Mike McNamara is a senior product and solution marketing leader at NetApp with over 25 years of data management and cloud storage marketing experience. Before joining NetApp over ten years ago, Mike worked at Adaptec, Dell EMC, and HPE. Mike was a key team leader driving the launch of a first-party cloud storage offering and the industry’s first cloud-connected AI/ML solution (NetApp), unified scale-out and hybrid cloud storage system and software (NetApp), iSCSI and SAS storage system and software (Adaptec), and Fibre Channel storage system (EMC CLARiiON).
In addition to his past role as marketing chairperson for the Fibre Channel Industry Association, he is a member of the Ethernet Technology Summit Conference Advisory Board, a member of the Ethernet Alliance, a regular contributor to industry journals, and a frequent event speaker. Mike also published a book through FriesenPress titled "Scale-Out Storage - The Next Frontier in Enterprise Data Management" and was listed as a top 50 B2B product marketer to watch by Kapos.
