Inquiry about Peer Motion

[raysa321]

Hi,

We are planning a data migration from our server connected to source system HPE Primera to target Alletra MP system. Using Alletra storage UI to performa to follow the zoning assistance provided from the UI below are some questions that we need to clarify.

1. Is our server that we will migrate will require also a zoning to target Alletra port? If yes, what Alletra MP ports shoulld i zone to my server? is it the same Alletra MP peer port that we will going to use? or okay to use other host port aside to Alletra MP peer port?

2. During the migration is Alletra MP will auto create the target volume? If yes, do the Alletra UI has an option to enable the v2 data compression and dedup to target voumes upon starting the migration or I need to manually enable after the migration?

3 After the migration of all volumes to Alletra MP is completed, how the migrated server will use the new path to our Alletra MP?

- Does it will automatically exported the target volumes to our server? How, does it will create a host definition to Alletra MP automatically or manualy created before the migration?

- What will the delete will do in the background aside of deleting the migration configuration?

Hoping to get from your expert advise soon as I dont see any available trainings or vLab from the HPE education services to simulate the Peer motion.

[Dardan · Accepted solution]

Hi @raysa321

Let me try to share my hands-on experience with Peer Motion migration between 3par and Alletra MP.

1. The server you are intended to migrate does need zoning in advance to your Alletra array. Therefore you need to use host ports to zone your server. Peer port are only used for migration of you workloads and will probably be decommed afterwards.

2. During migration, Alletra will autocreate the vvols data compression (v2) enabled by default. It will even retain the vlun ID's on the target system (Alletra). Everything is quiet clear using the Peer Motion wizard.

3. Migration process will export the new Vluns from Alletra to your server, and unexport the source (old) vvols from your Primera array.

- You'll need to create the host upfront, when zoning the server - see point 1.

- Delete operation (if selected) can also delete source vvols.

Hereby some video explanations from HPE's Youtube channel:

Migrating from HPE Primera and HPE Alletra 9000 to HPE GreenLake for Block Storage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFHeXn6IYo4

Migrating from HPE 3PAR to HPE GreenLake for Block Storage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jft3ZbDzvuE

Hope this helps!

[raysa321]

Hi @Dardan ,

Appreciate you answer is base on what has been experience before you provided the link to documentation and videos. As it will help a lot for those who has less experienced.

Now its clear to me I need to do a preworks on my server to zone to my target systemn Alletra MP host ports. Once server zoning to target system host ports has been done do I need to create a host definition from my target system or during Peer Motion migration it will do that for me?

As I can see from the documentation and video you provided during the configuration of PM from target Alletra MP storage UI there is no option to select the server or host for the target VV's will be exported on it during the migration.

We will plan to migrate indivdual volumes one at a time to avoid performance hit to host because we will use the same host port of our source system for the Peer links. With that does Peer Motion migration process is intelligent enough to see that the  volume(s) to be migrated is attached from specific server then during migration the target VV's will be exported automatically to the said specific server given the host definition is in place from target system?

[raysa321]

Hope someone could respond to my follow up inquiry. thank you.

[Mr_Techie]

@raysa321 

Yes, the Peer Motion migration process will automatically export the target VV to the server if:

1. The source volume being migrated is attached to the server.

2. A matching host definition is already present on the target Alletra MP system.

If the host definition is not in place, you will need to create it manually and export the volume to the host after migration. Let me know if you need help with creating or verifying the host definitions. 

[raysa321]

This is good to hear @Mr_Techie . Thank you for sharing and appreciate it.