File system configuration and permissions

BMC Helix Data Manager migrates data by exporting and importing data to and from files on a file system. In an optimal configuration, the export and import file system are in the same physical location. Then, you do not need to copy files as part of a data migration operation. However, in many cases, a shared file system is not possible, for example, when migrating from an on-premises to a cloud-based BMC Helix ITSM system or when moving between systems hosted in different data centers.

Where possible and supported by the performance of the infrastructure, we recommend that you configure the file system to be shared.

In all cases, fast disks with fast connections will give you the optimal data export and import performance. Remote network disks are a convenient way to provide shared file systems but can negatively impact performance if located on poorly performing networks or physical disks. A poorly performing shared network drive is convenient but can be less efficient during a migration than local physical disks attached to the source and target systems.

Connectivity

The BMC Helix Data Manager Engine needs direct access to the file system through local file access. BMC Helix Data Manager uses this connection for the following activities:

• Creating the directories into which the export data files are written
• Reading and writing the data
• Creating the export package descriptor XML file that contains the information about the contents of the export package

Permissions

Make sure to configure the file system permissions correctly to allow the BMC Helix Data Manager Engine and the database to interact with the file system.

Process	RDBMS	Required permissions
Export	Oracle Postgres	BMC Helix Data Manager extracts data by way of JDBC and writes to a locally accessible file system. This removes the requirement for file system permissions to be synchronized with the Oracle database process. The user that the BMC Helix Data Manager runtime uses to connect to the file system must be able to write, read, and create directories, and write files.
	MS SQL	The user that the BMC Helix Data Manager runtime uses to connect to the file system to which data will be exported must be able to write, read, and create directories.
Import	Oracle Postgres	The user that the BMC Helix Data Manager runtime uses to connect to the file system must be able to read from that file system.
	MS SQL	The user running the MS SQL database process must be able to read from the file system from which data is being imported.