Moving a file system

Moving a file system (or several file systems) may be necessary to improve performance or balance loads, to move data to different storage resources, to support changing network topography, or other reasons.

There are two basic methods of moving a file system:

• File System Relocation

  File system relocation changes the EVS (virtual server) that hosts the file system, but it does not move file system data. Moving the file system from one EVS to another changes the IP address used to access the file system, and also changes CIFS shares and NFS Exports for that file system. For information on how to relocate a file system using File System Relocation, refer to the Replication and Disaster Recovery Administration Guide.

  If the file system to be relocated is linked to from within a CNS, and clients access the CNS using a CIFS share or an NFS export, the relocation can be performed with no change to the configuration of network clients. In this case, clients will be able to access the file system through the same IP address and CIFS share/NFS export name after the relocation as they did before the relocation was initiated. For more information on CNS, refer to the Server and Cluster Administration Guide.

  CAUTION:
  Whether or not the file system resides in a CNS, relocating a file system will disrupt CIFS communication with the server. If Windows clients require access to the file system, the file system relocation should be scheduled for a time when CIFS access can be interrupted.
• Transfer of primary access

  A transfer of primary access is a replication-based method of copying data from a portion of a file system (or an entire file system) and relocating the access points for that data (copying the data and metadata). A transfer of primary access causes very little down time, and the file system is live and servicing file read requests during most of the relocation process. For a short period during the relocation process, access is limited to read-only. For more information on relocating a file system using transfer of primary access, refer to the Replication and Disaster Recovery Administration Guide.