Question Migrating to a new NAS ?

[OmahaMax]

I need to migrate from old, failing Buffalo LS421DE to a new 2-bay NAS. I am thinking of a Synology DS223j or a QNAP TS-233. Question: Can I just plug my old hard drives into the new NAS and keep working? (The LS421DE uses an XFS file system.) Or will I have go through some copying/conversion hoops?

 

[priyansh1]

Listen; migrating to a new NAS can be a straightforward process if you plan ahead. Here's a step-by-step guide to ensure a smooth transition:

1. Backup Your Data: Before you do anything, back up all critical data on your old NAS to an external drive or cloud storage. This ensures you won’t lose anything important during the migration process.
2. Set Up the New NAS: Follow the manufacturer's setup guide for the new NAS. Make sure the device is connected to your network and updated with the latest firmware.
3. Create Shares and Users: Set up shared folders and user permissions on the new NAS, replicating the structure from the old NAS if needed. Ensure that users have appropriate access levels to their data.
4. Transfer the Data: You can use various methods for data transfer:
   • Direct Transfer via Network: If both NAS devices are on the same network, you can copy data directly from one to the other using file-sharing protocols like SMB, NFS, or FTP.
   • Manual Hard Drive Transfer: If the new NAS supports it, you can physically move the hard drives from the old NAS to the new one, assuming the drives are compatible and there are no issues with data formatting.
5. Test the Migration: Once the data is transferred, check the integrity of the files. Make sure that all the data is accessible and permissions are working as expected.
6. Decommission Old NAS: After ensuring everything is working on the new NAS, you can decommission the old device. If you're reusing old hard drives, make sure to securely wipe them.

Additional Tips:

• Plan for Downtime: Depending on the amount of data, the migration can take time. Plan for downtime, especially if you rely on the NAS for work or personal use.
• Consider Redundancy: Ensure the new NAS has the same or better redundancy (RAID, etc.) to protect your data long-term.
• Future-Proofing: If your old NAS is outdated, ensure the new one has features like faster speeds (e.g., 10GbE support), better security options, and cloud integration to keep it relevant for years.

 

[USAFRet]

I need to migrate from old, failing Buffalo LS421DE to a new 2-bay NAS. I am thinking of a Synology DS223j or a QNAP TS-233. Question: Can I just plug my old hard drives into the new NAS and keep working? (The LS421DE uses an XFS file system.) Or will I have go through some copying/conversion hoops?

Doubtful it would be just plug n play.

You'll almost certainly have to reformat in the new NEW.

But this raises the question....is the copy in the current Buffalo the only copy of this data?
If so, don't do that. You NEED a good backup.

 

[OmahaMax]

@priyansh1:
Great post. Thanks. Can you point me to any tutorials on doing a direct transfer from the old NAS to the new one via the network, using SMB, NFS, or FTP? (I think I presently use SMB to access the files on the old Buffalo LS421DE NAS, which uses an XFS file system. I actually have the Share mapped as a network drive, so on my Win11 computer, the mapped drive looks like an NTFS drive. ) Will the QNAP TS-233 also allow me to use SMB to access files on it? If so, maybe I can just drag and drop them.