Edit

Migrate data to Azure with Datadobi DobiMigrate

  • Article

This article helps you integrate the Datadobi DobiMigrate infrastructure with Azure storage. It includes prerequisites, considerations, implementation, and operational guidance.

DobiMigrate enables file and object migrations between storage platforms. It migrates data from on-premises to Azure quickly, easily, and cost effectively.

Reference architecture

The following diagram provides a reference architecture for on-premises to Azure and in-Azure deployments.

Reference architecture describes basic setup for DobiMigrate

Your existing DobiMigrate deployment can easily integrate with Azure by adding and configuring an Azure connection.

Before you begin

A little upfront planning will help you use Azure as an offsite backup target and recovery site.

Get started with Azure

Microsoft offers a framework to follow to get you started with Azure. The Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF) is a detailed approach to enterprise digital transformation and comprehensive guide to planning a production grade cloud adoption. The CAF includes a step-by-step Azure setup guide to help you get up and running quickly and securely. You can find an interactive version in the Azure portal. You'll find sample architectures, specific best practices for deploying applications, and free training resources to put you on the path to Azure expertise.

Considerations for migrations

Several aspects are important when considering migrations of file data to Azure. Before proceeding learn more:

Remember, you'll require enough network capacity to support migrations without impacting production applications. This section outlines the tools and techniques that are available to assess your network needs.

Determine unutilized internet bandwidth

It's important to know how much typically unutilized bandwidth (or headroom) you have available on a day-to-day basis. To help you assess whether you can meet your goals for:

  • initial time for migrations when you're not using Azure Data Box for offline method
  • time required to do incremental resync before final switch-over to the target file service

Use the following methods to identify the bandwidth headroom to Azure that is free to consume.

Implementation guidance

This section provides a brief guide for how to add Azure Files share to an on-premises to Azure DobiMigrate deployment.

  1. Open the Azure portal, and search for storage accounts.

    Shows where you've typed storage in the search box of the Azure portal.

    You can also click on the default Storage accounts icon.

    Shows adding a storage account in the Azure portal.

  2. Select Create to add an account:

    1. Select existing resource group or Create new
    2. Provide a unique name for your storage account
    3. Choose the region
    4. Select Standard or Premium performance, depending on your needs. If you select Premium, select File shares under Premium account type.
    5. Choose the Redundancy that meets your data protection requirements

    Shows storage account settings in the portal.

  3. Next, we recommend the default settings from the Advanced screen. If you are migrating to Azure Files, we recommend enabling Large file shares if available.

    Shows Advanced settings tab in the portal.

  4. Keep the default networking options for now and move on to Data protection. You can choose to enable soft delete, which allows you to recover an accidentally deleted data within the defined retention period. Soft delete offers protection against accidental or malicious deletion.

    Shows the Data Protection settings in the portal.

  5. Add tags for organization if you use tagging and Create your account.

  6. Two quick steps are all that are now required before you can add the account to your DobiMigrate environment. Navigate to the account you created in the Azure portal and select File shares under the File service menu. Add a File share and choose a meaningful name. Then, navigate to the Access keys item under Settings and copy the Storage account name and one of the two access keys.

    Shows access key settings in the portal.

  7. Navigate to the properties of the Azure File share and take the URL address, it will be required to add the Azure connection into the DobiMigrate:

    Find Azure files endpoint.

  8. (Optional) You can add extra layers of security to your deployment.

    1. Configure role-based access to limit who can make changes to your storage account. For more information, see Built-in roles for management operations.

    2. Restrict access to the account to specific network segments with storage firewall settings. Configure firewall settings to prevent access from outside of your corporate network.

      Shows storage firewall settings in the portal.

    3. Set a delete lock on the account to prevent accidental deletion of the storage account.

      Shows setting a delete lock in the portal.

    4. Configure extra security best practices.

  9. In DobiMigrate, navigate to Configuration -> File Servers. Click Add to add Microsoft Azure Files as a file server type:

    Add Microsoft Azure Files as server type.

  10. Specify the Name, Azure Files connection details, and the storage account credentials:

    Configure Azure Files connection details.

  11. Assign the proxies to the Azure Files connection and click Test connection; to confirm that the proxies can communicate with Azure Files:

    Test connection details.

    The connection test results are displayed:

    Show results of test connections.

  12. Under SMB Migration Shares, you see all the Azure File shares that are provisioned under this storage account. Set Mapping to Manual for the shares that are in your migration scope, for example:

    Show available shares.

  13. Click Finish to complete the Azure Files configuration. You can then start a new migration task.

Start a new migration

DobiMigrate can set up a new migration by manually adding migration paths, or by using bulk import. Bulk import adds multiple migrations with common migration options.

To start a new migration:

  1. Click the New migration button on the dashboard.

    Start a new migration job.

  2. Select the source and the paths to be migrated.

    Select source and the paths to be migrated.

  3. Select the Destination.

  4. Verify the protocols, and confirm the migration options.

  5. Click Finish to complete the migration process.

Support

When you need help with your migration to Azure solution, you should open a case with both Datadobi and Azure.

To open a case with Datadobi

On the Datadobi Support Site, sign in, and open a case.

To open a case with Azure

In the Azure portal search for support in the search bar at the top. Select Help + support -> New Support Request.

Marketplace

Datadobi has made it easy to deploy their solution in Azure to protect Azure Virtual Machines and many other Azure services. For more information, see the following references:

Next steps

Learn more by visiting our guides: