How do I migrate data from another brand of NAS to my QNAP NAS?

Applicable Products

All QNAP NAS

Scenario

Migrating from a non-QNAP NAS to a QNAP NAS requires transferring your data, as direct storage pool or system configuration migration is not supported between different brands. Below are two main migration options depending on your hardware and storage needs.

You can migrate your data from a non-QNAP NAS to your QNAP NAS using one of the following methods. Choose the method that best fits your hardware and needs.

Option 1: Install new hard disks in QNAP NAS and transfer data over the network

1. Install new hard disks into your QNAP NAS and initialize the system using Qfinder Pro or the web-based Smart Installation Guide.
2. Connect both your existing NAS and the QNAP NAS to the same local network.
3. Transfer data using QNAP Hybrid Backup Sync (HBS) Active Sync:
   • Open HBS on your QNAP NAS.
   • Add your existing NAS as a remote storage space in HBS. Supported protocols include SMB/CIFS, FTP, and Rsync. Ensure your old NAS supports one of these protocols and is configured to allow remote access.
   • Important: When transferring or syncing data from a non-QNAP NAS, you must set up an Active Sync job in HBS.
   • Create an Active Sync job in HBS to synchronize data from the old NAS to the QNAP NAS shared folders.
4. Alternatively, you can manually copy files using your computer or file management tools via SMB, AFP, or NFS.
5. After migration, verify data integrity by comparing file counts and spot-checking files.

Option 2: Use temporary storage (such as a USB external disk) for migration

1. Connect a USB external disk to your existing NAS and back up your data to the disk.
2. Warning: Initializing the QNAP NAS will erase all data on the installed disks. Be sure you have backed up your data.
3. Remove the hard disks from your old NAS and install them into your QNAP NAS.
4. Initialize your QNAP NAS with the installed disks using Qfinder Pro or the web-based Smart Installation Guide.
5. After setup, connect the USB external disk to the QNAP NAS.
6. Use File Station to restore your data from the USB disk to the QNAP NAS shared folders.
7. Verify that all files have been restored successfully before decommissioning your old NAS.

Limitations

• Direct storage pool or system configuration migration from non-QNAP NAS devices is not supported.
• When using HBS to transfer data from a non-QNAP NAS, you must use Active Sync. One-way sync is not supported for this scenario.
• File permissions and metadata (such as timestamps or comments) may not be preserved when transferring between different NAS brands or protocols.
• Always verify data integrity after migration to ensure all files have been transferred correctly.

Further Reading

• HBS Quick Start Guide
• Creating an active sync job