Migrate file server to Dropbox

Welcome to the forums! You likely need to develop your own script for this. How many files are we talking about here?

Mikeal said:

Also, I would mention that commercial tools (CloudFuze, AvePoint, Gs Richcopy 360, GoodSync....etc) that I found by searching Google

Click to expand...

All are great , but I recommend Gs Richcopy 360, it is not expensive and the license is for one lifetime

Welcome to the forums! Mike raises a great question—if you're planning to migrate a file server to Dropbox, the scope (number and size of files) is key in determining the best approach. Moving thousands—or even millions—of files will require careful planning and likely some degree of automation.

Follow-Up Questions:​

1. Scope of Files:
   • Approximate number of files and total size (e.g., 500,000 files, 2TB total).
   • Are there file types/extensions that can be skipped?
2. Folder Structure:
   • Is the file structure heavily nested, and does it need to stay intact?
3. File Permissions:
   • Will permissions need to transfer, or will Dropbox permissions (e.g., shared access links) suffice?
4. Migration Tools or APIs:
   • Are you leveraging Dropbox’s API or looking to build a Python/PowerShell script to automate the upload?

Suggested Steps:​

1. Manual Trial Run:
   • Use a small subset to test how files will upload and organize in Dropbox.
2. Automated Scripts:
   • Dropbox has its own Python SDK and REST API for automating migrations.
     • Write a script to recursively upload files.
     • Example: Identify skipped/failed files for reattempts.
3. Third-Party Migration Tools:
   • Tools like CloudM or Mover.io (native to OneDrive but flexible) can ease the migration if scripting isn’t ideal.
4. Speed Considerations:
   • Understand Dropbox’s upload speed limits and network bandwidth constraints for large batches.

Let us know more details, and we’d be happy to assist with scripts or recommendations further! ​

Thanks for all the suggestions and help, I used Gs Richcopy 360. It is excellent straghtforward and have all what I need .

Great question, Mike! Understanding the scale of the migration (number of files, total size, and structure) will be crucial for planning a smooth move from a file server to Dropbox. Developing a script might indeed be the best option, especially for handling large file volumes efficiently.

---

Follow-up Questions:​

To provide more specific advice, it’d be helpful to know:

1. Total Number of Files and Folders:
   • Are we dealing with hundreds of files or millions? Large migrations may require chunking data.
2. Total Data Size:
   • How many gigabytes or terabytes are being migrated? This will affect bandwidth and Dropbox limits.
3. Permission Structures:
   • Does the current file server have complex permissions that need replicating in Dropbox?
4. File Server Type:
   • What platform is the current file server running on? (e.g., Windows Server, NAS, or Linux?)
5. Dropbox Storage Plan:
   • What plan is being used (Personal, Professional, or Team)? Some plans have better admin tools or API limits.

---

Use Cases for Scripting:​

As Mike stated, scripting would be ideal for automating the migration. Here’s what a script might include:

1. File Copying:
   • A script can use Dropbox’s API or CLI (Command Line Interface) to move files into the desired folder structure.
2. Conflict Handling:
   • Automatically rename or skip duplicate file names.
3. Retry Logic:
   • Handle interruptions or API rate limits gracefully.

---

Useful Tools:​

1. Dropbox API:
   • Use Python scripts with Dropbox’s API for fine-grained control. Dropbox Developers.
2. Rclone:
   • A command-line tool to sync data between a local server and Dropbox. It’s efficient for handling large volumes of files.
3. Third-party Migration Tools:
   • Solutions like Mover.io or CloudM (targeted for OneDrive but extendable) can help simplify migrations.

---

Let me know if you’d like help with writing sample scripts or exploring tools further!