Skip to main content
NetApp Data Migrator

Learn about NetApp Data Migrator

Contributors netapp-pcarriga
PDFs

NetApp Data Migrator is an enterprise grade, multicloud, data migration software application that simplifies the migration of unstructured file data from on-premises or third-party storage systems to public cloud storage services powered by NetApp. NetApp Data Migrator is an independent application that runs on user-managed virtual machines and eliminates the need for complex custom scripts and disjointed tools.

You can use NetApp Data Migrator to discover your existing storage environments, generate a quick inventory of files, and create plans to migrate your data from a source storage server to NetApp cloud storage services. After data migration starts, you can monitor migration jobs using the UI. You can also generate Chain of Custody (CoC) reports that use checksums to help verify your data migration operations.

NetApp Data Migrator supports NFS and SMB file transfer protocols. You deploy worker nodes in your environment to maintain control and security during migration. The workers facilitate parallel data transfers, which improves performance and scalability. NetApp Data Migrator includes features such as pre-checks and incremental sync to provide smooth and efficient migration with minimal downtime. You can keep your source systems active for most of the migration process, then perform a final cutover when ready. NetApp Data Migrator also offers robust logging and error handling, allowing you to troubleshoot and recover from issues without having to restart the entire migration process.

Before you start working with NetApp Data Migrator, it's helpful to first be familiar with the key terminology.

Control plane

The control plane gives you access to the migration activities. From the control plane, you can perform the following tasks:

  • Manage projects, users, jobs, and file servers.

  • Schedule and dispatch job runs to available workers.

  • Monitor job runs, collect logs, and report status.

  • Enforce access control and user permissions.

  • Configure an SMTP email server for real-time notifications.

Cutover

A Cutover job is the last migration step. It is required for the final sync between source and destination systems. A Cutover job performs the following actions:

  • Stops ongoing migrate jobs for selected paths

  • Performs a final sync to ensure that data is consistent

  • Generates a Chain of Custody (CoC) report for validation

  • Requires your approval to mark the migration as complete

Discover

A Discover job scans and inventories data on a source or destination file server. It creates a report with details about the files and directories in selected export paths in a source or destination file server, which helps you to understand the scope and complexity of your data before starting migration. A Discover job performs the following actions:

  • Analyzes the structure and contents of export paths

  • Collects metadata such as file names, sizes, permissions, and timestamps

  • Generates detailed reports and histograms for planning and auditing

Export path

An export path represents the location of the data to be included in a Discover, Migrate, or Cutover operation. Export paths are the fundamental units of data being copied in any migration workflow and have the following characteristics:

  • Protocol-specific (NFS exports or SMB shares)

  • Validated for accessibility and permissions

  • Used as input for job creation (Discovery, Migrate, Cutover)

Job

A job is a logical construct of a data migration task. It specifies what to do, where to do it, and how it should be executed. You can reuse jobs and schedule or trigger them manually.

A job includes two main components:

  • Job definition: A predefined sequence of steps, for example, scan, sync, or report.

  • Job configuration: User-defined parameters such as source or destination paths, exclusion rules, and scheduling.

NetApp Data Migrator supports three main job types:

  • Discovery job: Inventories and analyzes source and destination data.

  • Migrate job: Transfers data from source to destination.

  • Cutover job: Finalizes the migration and switches to the destination system.

Job run

A job run is a single execution instance of a job. Job runs allow you to monitor, manage, and troubleshoot the execution of migration tasks in real time. A job run includes the following details:

  • Has a unique timestamp and execution ID

  • Can be in one of several states: Ready, Running, Paused, Stopped, Errored, Blocked, or Completed

  • Generates logs, metrics, and task-level details

Migrate

A Migrate job migrates your data from a source to a destination file server, securely, efficiently, and with minimal disruption. It has the following features:

  • Performs baseline migration (initial full copy)

  • Supports incremental sync (updates based on changes)

  • Allows you to configure options such as exclusion patterns, permission remapping, and access time preservation

  • Includes pre-checks of permissions, capacity, and connectivity

Project

A Project is a logical workspace that includes all components and activities related to a specific data migration activity. It serves as the top-level organizational unit within NetApp Data Migrator. A project has the following characteristics:

  • A unique name and description

  • Associated users with defined roles (Project Admin, Project Viewer)

  • Linked file servers, jobs, workers, and configurations

Projects help you to isolate migration efforts, making it easier to manage multiple migrations simultaneously across different teams, departments, or clients.

Storage server (file server)

A storage (file) server is a critical component in the migration workflow. It stores the data to be migrated or serves as the destination for migrated data.

  • NetApp Data Migrator supports NFS and SMB file servers

  • Each file server is configured with the following details:

    • A name and server type

    • Authentication credentials

    • Associated workers for executing migration tasks

Users

Users manage data migration activities. App Admin users (administrators) assign roles to other users that determine their level of access and control.

NetApp Data Migrator supports three user roles:

  • App Admin: Provides full administrative privileges that allow you to manage other users, projects, and system settings

  • Project Admin: Provides permission to manage specific projects and configure, create, and monitor jobs

  • Project Viewer: Provides read-only access to view project details, job statuses, and reports

You authenticate with an email and password, and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) governs your permissions. This provides secure, role-appropriate access to sensitive data and operations. NetApp Data Migrator uses RBAC to manage permissions and helps secure access to resources.

Worker

A worker is a virtual machine that performs actual data operations, for example, copying data from source to destination.

  • Workers are responsible for executing tasks such as scanning directories, copying files, and syncing metadata.

  • Workers enable distributed processing, allowing NetApp Data Migrator to scale across large datasets and multiple environments efficiently.

  • Workers relay high-level statistical information about data migration to the control plane.

  • You install and register a worker using NetApp Data Migrator.

  • Each worker has the following characteristics:

    • Is associated with one or more file servers

    • Reports system metrics such as CPU, memory, and status (online or offline) to the control plane

    • Reports high-level statistical information about data migration to the control plane

What's next?

After learning about NetApp Data Migrator, you can decide whether to use the software for your data migration operations.