Guest copy methods

[R.Rousseau]

Hi,

I have 2 hosts 11iv3 with Integrity vm 4.0 each connected to EVA4400.
I have to move one guest from one host to other host but could not see what is the best methods.
What I plan is the following method :
- Clone with CA the only lun presented to the vgguest to other room
- vgexport/import the vgguest from source host to dest host
- copy the /var/opt/hpvm/guests/vmguest and /var/opt/hpvm/uuids/bbba...... from source host to dest host
- modify id 3 in the .vmid file of the guest because one guest on the dest host already have this number
- start vm in the dest host (avoiding start on the source host)

Is this enough ?

What if i simply create a new vm on the dest host and reassign the duplicated vg (instead of copying all files...) ?
Would it renumber disk inside the VM ?
Do I need a vgcfgbackup inside the guest before ?

Hpvmmigrate could be used in this situation and is easier than those methods ?

Regards

[smatador]

Hi,
I do this with hpvmmigrate and it works well.
I even do it with hpvm 4.1 with the online options -o and it works fine too.
HTH

[Eric SAUBIGNAC]

Bonjour Regis,

DON'T copy "var/opt/hpvm/guests/...". There is really no need to do that. And I guess it won't be supported.

The main idea to move a VM to an other host is :

- if hosts can see both the same EVAs, present lun of vgguest to the new host.

- if your virtual backingstore is based on raw disks, that's all. if it is based on LVM, import the VG on the new host.

- stop the VM on original host and if necessary (backing store as LVM) deactivate the corresponding VG

- if necessary (backing store as LVM), active the VG on the new host.

- Now, and it is the key of the process, create the VM on the target host with the VERY SAME VIRTUAL BUS ADDRESSING than on the source host.

- start the VM and, in the virtual console (hpvmconsole), boot manually. There is yet no boot entry.

- Once the VM is started, issue a 'setboot -p XXXX' to populate EFI boot menu

- clean what is needed on original host (LVM, guest, ... ) or create a cluster of VM ;-)


If hosts cannot see both the same EVAs, you will have to duplicate the guest's LUN (CA), or copy, or whatever method is useable in your configuration. But the whole process will remain about the same ...

Hope this help

Eric

[R.Rousseau]

Thanks Eric for your answer.

It was not very clear to me before my question what was the difference between a copy of a VM and an hypothetic identical recreation (with details of hpvmstatus -d).
I see in some posts that it is possible to recopy the nvram file so EFI is not to rebuild.

EVA bays are not in the same computer room so i neeed a migration from one room to the other.
If i create a disk replication of my lun between rooms, presented to both hosts, is it possible/easier to use hpvmmigrate ?

[Eric SAUBIGNAC]

Regis,

Yes it is possible to copy NVRAM file. I did it before. But how long will it still be possible ? Can we clearly say that there is no specific information in that file, for example informations that are host relevant ? I can't. That's why I no more copy nvram file.

As said in other posts I never used hpvmmigrate. So I can't say if it is easier or not. What I know is that the way I move VM between hosts works and is not so complex. And anyway, using hpvmmigrate don't prevent you from asking (and answering of course), the good questions about the resources you want to move.

Ho YES, one day I will have to use hpvmmigrate to do online migration ... and I will.

I forgot in my previous post : you may want to complete migration process by setting the machine serial number. See this post http://forums.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1412605

Eric