Preparing for the Retirement of DataServer-IP (DSIP) Shares

To improve the reliability, scalability, and security of the Commvault platform, Commvault is deprecating DataServer-IP (DSIP) shares. 

Beginning with Commvault 11.44, customers can no longer create new DSIP shares. Existing DSIP configurations remain supported through March 31, 2027, giving customers time to identify affected storage pools and migrate to recommended shared-storage configurations. 

Although DSIP shares can be convenient, they are not designed to scale as environments and data volumes grow. Moving to direct NFS or SMB access provides a more reliable and secure architecture while aligning shared-storage access with standard, credentialed network protocols. 

We encourage you to review your configurations and plan applicable transitions as soon as practical. This article explains how to determine whether your environment is impacted and provides high-level migration steps. 

Applies To: Commvault Software Customers Only 

This change applies to Commvault Software customers with on-premises CommCell environments. It does not apply to Commvault Cloud SaaS offerings. Commvault Cloud backup gateways do not use the DataServer-IP transport method. 
 

Overview 

DataServer-IP (DSIP) is a transport method that allows multiple MediaAgents to share access to the same local mount path without network credentials. It is most commonly configured automatically when a storage pool has multiple mount paths shared across multiple MediaAgents. Because the DataServer-IP transport method will be deprecated, use the following procedures to determine whether your environment relies on it. 

How to Determine Whether You Are Impacted 

Your environment is impacted if any mount path in a storage pool is shared across MediaAgents using DataServer-IP. Storage accessed directly as a local or NFS disk, or shared over SMB through a UNC path, is not affected by this deprecation. 

How to Check (Command Center) 

• Go to Storage > Disk. 
• Open the disk storage (storage pool) you want to check. 
• In the Backup locations section, open each backup location (mount path). 
• In the Disk access paths table, review the access type and path displayed for each MediaAgent: 
• Local or NFS disk: displayed as a direct path, such as D:\Data for local storage or /mnt/data for a mounted NFS share. Not impacted. 
• SMB share: listed as a UNC path (for example, \\server\share). Not impacted. 
• DataServer-IP: listed as “via Network.” This pool is impacted. 
• Repeat for every backup location under every disk storage pool. 

Note: Command Center labels this as “via Network” rather than naming DataServer-IP directly. 

How to Check (CommCell Console) 

The CommCell Console displays the transport type explicitly for each shared mount path, making it a clear way to confirm DataServer-IP usage. 

• From the CommCell Browser, expand Storage Resources > Libraries > <Library>. 
• Right-click the mount path you want to check and click Properties. 
• Click the Sharing tab. 
• Review the Controllers list. Each MediaAgent sharing this mount path shows a Transport Type: 
• Data Server - IP: This pool is impacted. 
• Regular / Network: Not impacted. 
• Repeat for every mount path in every library. 

Recommended Migration Steps 

Replace DataServer-IP access for each affected MediaAgent with direct NFS access for Linux or SMB access for Windows. 

The following steps provide high-level guidance. For complete instructions tailored to your environment, refer to the Commvault documentation and your operating system documentation. 

Note: Changing an access path's transport type from Command Center requires Commvault 11.44 or later. If you are on an earlier release, use the CommCell Console steps below instead. 

Migration Steps (Command Center)—Version 11.44 and Later 

• On the MediaAgent hosting the storage, create a share for the mount path. 
• Exact steps vary by operating system and are outside the scope of this overview. See your operating system and Commvault documentation for detailed instructions on configuring NFS or SMB storage. 
• If the MediaAgent(s) that were accessing the storage via DataServer-IP are Linux-based, manually mount the share on each host. 
• Configure the mount to persist and reconnect automatically on startup. 
• For Windows MediaAgents using SMB shares, no manual mount is required; configure the UNC path and credentials directly in Commvault. 
• Go to Storage > Disk, open the disk storage and backup location, and in the Disk access paths table, click the path listed as “via Network” for this MediaAgent. 
• Configure the access path based on the MediaAgent's operating system: 
• For NFS (Linux): select the path to the mounted share. 
• For SMB (Windows): enter the share details and credentials. 
• Save the change. 
• Repeat for every MediaAgent previously sharing the mount path via DataServer-IP. 

Reference documentation: 

• Modifying a Disk Access Path (editing an existing access path) 

Migration Steps (CommCell Console)—Required for Versions Earlier Than 11.44 

• On the MediaAgent hosting the storage, create a share for the mount path. 
• Exact steps vary by operating system and are outside the scope of this overview. See your operating system and Commvault documentation for detailed instructions on configuring NFS or SMB storage. 
• If the MediaAgent(s) that were accessing the storage via DataServer-IP are Linux-based, manually mount the share on each host. 
• Configure the mount to persist and reconnect automatically on startup. 
• For Windows MediaAgents using SMB shares, no manual mount is required; configure the UNC path and credentials directly in the CommCell Console. 
• From the CommCell Browser, expand Storage Resources > Libraries > <Library>, right-click the mount path, click Properties, and click the Sharing tab. 
• Select the existing controller entry for this MediaAgent (showing Transport Type “Data Server - IP”) and click Edit. 
• In the Device Controller Details dialog box, change the Transport Type from Data Server - IP to Regular, then select the appropriate path or enter the share information: 
• For NFS: choose Local Path and enter the path to the mounted share. 
• For SMB (Windows): choose Network Path and enter the UNC path and credentials. 
• Click OK to save the change. 
• Repeat for every MediaAgent previously sharing the mount path via DataServer-IP. 

Reference documentation: 

• Modifying a Mount Path (editing an existing controller's path and transport type) 
• Sharing a Mount Path (background on the Sharing tab and Controllers list) 

Learn More 

• DataServer-IP deprecation notice (documentation) 

If you need assistance planning your migration, contact your success team or post your questions here.