I’m not an Unraid user, but because you are moving from a traditional USB-boot Unraid setup to the new Unraid 7.3 internal boot system my understanding is the process would go something like the below. You might actually get more specific help on the Unraid forums:
The Core Principle: The /config Folder
In Unraid, absolutely everything that makes the server “yours”—your share definitions, Docker templates, VM configurations, user scripts, and UI settings—lives inside the /config directory on the boot device. Moving to a new server is essentially just copying this folder over, but with a few critical exceptions.
Step-by-Step Migration Approach
1. Prepare and License the New X15 First
Before moving any physical drives or data, boot up the new X15. Ensure that Unraid 7.3 is running correctly on the internal boot drive and that its new license is successfully registered and active.
2. Backup the Old Configuration
On the old server, stop the array. Take the USB drive out, plug it into a separate computer, and copy the entire config folder to your desktop. This is the master backup.
3. Copy the Config (With Exceptions)
You will need to transfer the contents of your old config folder to the /config directory on the X15’s internal boot drive. However, you must exclude the following files from the transfer:
- The Old License File (
.key file): Do not copy your old USB license key over to the new system. The X15 already has its own license tied to its internal hardware. Overwriting this will cause an immediate license mismatch error.
- Network Configurations (
network.cfg and network-rules.cfg): These files contain the MAC addresses of the old server’s network interface cards (NICs). Because the X15 has completely different networking hardware, copying these files will likely break your network access. Let the new X15 generate its own network files, and then you can manually reassign your static IP if necessary.
4. Move the Physical Drives
Once the cleaned-up config files are copied to the X15’s boot drive, power everything down. Physically move the 6 HDDs and the 2 NVMe drives into the X15.
5. Boot and Verify
Boot the X15. Because ZFS stores its pool metadata directly on the disks, Unraid will read the newly transferred configuration and automatically recognize your ZFS pools.
- Crucial Step: Do not start the array immediately. Go to the “Main” tab and double-check that every drive is assigned to the exact same slot/pool it was in previously.
- Once you verify the assignments are correct, start the array.
Because all of your Docker application data (appdata) and VM domains live on those ZFS pools, and your /config folder is providing the exact same share paths and templates, your containers and VMs should light up perfectly as if nothing ever changed.