Create Integrity VM using Ignite from physical server?

[Ian Dennison_1]

If the chipsets are the same (Itanium), can I perform a P-to-V (as the VMWare guys say) without having to re-install everything manually? The application installed on these Servers is notoriously tempermental when being changed, so it is hoped we can work around this.

Has anyone been brave enough to try this? Share and Enjoy! Ian

[Torsten.]

I did not try this, but a can't see a reason why this shouldn't work.

[likid0 · Accepted solution]

I have done this, with a weblogic server , and I had no problems, it worked straight away.

[Armin Kunaschik]

The idea would be to mirror (better Dynamic root disk) vg00 (and possible other vg's) to SAN disks, split mirrors and "move" the storage into a VM configuration.
The only "drawback" is that you have to present raw disks into the VM. I prefer logical volumes as backing storage because this gives you the more flexibility.
With this setup you can try if it works and not destroy your working setup.

My 2 cents,
Armin

PS: Please assign points!

[Suraj K Sankari]

Hi,
I think it will work...
Suraj

[Jozef_Novak]

Hello Ian,

you can use the following procedure to provide boot disk to your virtual machine:

http://docs.hp.com/en/5992-4803/5992-4803.pdf

If you plan to use Ignite, make sure HW I/O paths do no differ too much, especially paths to the boot disks should be the same.

Use export/import procedure for volume groups that contain application data.

J.

[Turgay Cavdar]

Hi,
I have tested the following:
1-)I take an ignite image of the physical server
2-)Give the nesessary permissions for the new virtual machines MAC and new IP address on the ignite,
3-)I booted the vm from ignite

4-)On the installation menu -> Basic -> Additional ->
Cloning to different HW?... must be TRUE

With this option ignite rebuild the kernel and remove device files and create new ones.

5-)At the end everything works well for me.


I tested this but never do such a thing in the production (migrations).

[Turgay Cavdar]

Sorry my previous post was not clear, i installed the vm from the recovery archive of the physical server.

[Ian Dennison_1]

Thanks everyone, some excellent information there.

Share and Enjoy! Ian