Windows File Server
Learn how to connect to a Microsoft Windows File Server with Movebot
Introduction
Movebot supports Microsoft Windows using a lightweight agent that is installed directly on the file server, another server, or on a virtual machine.
The agent uses a shared token for authentication and communicates with Movebot's infrastructure via secure HTTPS calls. The Windows agent does not require any port forwarding or static IP addressing for migrations and is very simple to set up and run.
We do not recommend installing the agent directly on the target file server. If possible, use a VM and connect via mapped network drives.
The agent can be run in a standalone fashion or as a service. For security reasons, we recommend not running the agent as a service during migrations.
Requirements
To connect Movebot to Microsoft Windows, you need:
A suitable host to install the the agent on
Remote access via RDP to the host
An administrator account on the host
A host that meets the firewall and network requirements
A host that meets the operating system requirements
A host that meets the specification requirements
For a full list of requirements, see Server Requirements
Configuration Steps
Login to Movebot and create a new project or task
When configuring the source or destination, choose to Create new Connection
Select Microsoft Windows/Apple OSX from the list of available connections and set the connection name
Movebot will provide an Agent Connection token. Copy this token and download the agent. This token is only viewable once so be sure to copy it when viewing it.
Login to the remote Windows file server as an administrator
Install the agent and launch it
Paste the identifier token provided in Movebot and click Connect. After a few seconds, the status indicator should change to show it's connected.
Return to the Movebot interface, and Click Save and Test
If the connection has succeeded, you can continue
Supported Features
Movebot has comprehensive support for Microsoft Windows and is well-maintained.
Folders
Fully Supported
Network Drives
Fully Supported
Permissions
Source Only
Versions
Not Supported
Modification Retention
Fully Supported
Automatic Sanitization
Fully Supported
Common Errors
Movebot supports bi-directional and tenant to tenant migrations with Windows Fileserver's. Below are common errors and questions related to scanning and migrating Windows Fileserver data.
Error: ECONNRESET
Cause: Your outbound firewall is filtering the internet connection
Resolution: Configure your firewall to allow all outbound traffic on port 443 and 53 from the virtual machine or server running the Movebot agent.
Error: Agent Disconnected
Cause: The movebot agent is not longer connected to Movebot
Resolution: Check that the virtual machine running the agent is still online and the agent is running. Restart the agent and/or virtual machine if required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Movebot support network drives
Answer: Yes. Movebot supports migrating to and from network drives.
To migrate data from network drives make sure they are mounted/connected to the virtual machine or physical server you have installed the Movebot agent on.
Does Movebot support proxy servers
Answer: Yes. Movebot supports migrating data on networks with a proxy server managing network connectivity.
To configure connectivity through a proxy server - Proxy Configuration
Does Movebot have Static IPs to whitelist
Answer: No. Movebot utilises dynamic IP addresses during a migration. We cannot provide you with static ip addresses or domain names to whitelist.
What ports does Movebot use for migrations
Answer: 443 and 53.
Movebot connects to the Movebot cloud via HTTPs.
Can I run Movebot on a desktop or laptop workstation
Answer: Not recommended
We do not recommend running the Movebot agent on a laptop or desktop. While possible, doing so can result in unpredictable performance and interruptions.
How much memory and cpu resources does the agent require
Answer: 16GB of ram and 4vCPUs minimum
We do not recommend running a migration on servers with less than above.
Tags: agent
Last updated