migrate XP256 data to XP128

[Edgar_8]

Hi All,

We are planning to migrate our existing hardware infrastructure ( 2X N4000 colocated servers connected
to an XP256 array running business copy) to new hardware infrastructure ( 2 sites - Production/PRD & DR ;
therefore 2X RP8420 at each site running business copy on an XP128 array at each site).
Our migration plan so far is :
- setup pri/sec severs and XP128 arrays at both sites(PRD/DR)
- install O/S;Oracle;HBAs
- setup mirror of vg00 of new RP8400's at each site(1 mirror copy on internal disk & the other on external storage)
- setup XP business copy on both PRD/DR sites
- shutdown DB & stop app running on N-4000, then take a full backup of data on XP256 using netbackup
- restore data from backup onto new XP128 at PRD site
- sync the PRD pri/sec environments at the PRD site
- start DB & app

Question:
1. Is the above plan bullet proof OR is there a more viable;risk free procedure we could follow?
2. Is there a way we could copy data off the XP256 to the XP128 if they are not colocated?
3. Could we just create map files for each vg on existing N-4000's; deactivate the vg's; disconnect the
XP256 from N-4000's; remove pv's from XP256; insert pv's into XP128; import vg's & activate vg?

Any advice on the most viable & risk free procedure would be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[Dave Wherry]

I'll start with the disclaimer that I have not worked on an XP256 for a couple of years so if there has been a major change that I'm not aware of, I could be way off.

The glaring hole in the plan is that Business Copy only works on a single frame. If you want to sync between the two XP128s, your Production and your DR sites, you will need Continuous Access.

Another method to migrate your data would be to have the N class servers connected to both the XP256 and the XP128. Add enough LUNs from the new XP128 into your existing volume groups. Then use MirrorDisk/UX to mirror all of your logical volumes to those LUNs on the XP128.
Prepare the new rp8400's as you mention above. When you are ready to cut over, quiesce your database and split the mirrors on the N class. On the rp8400 vgimport those LUNs into a new volume group. Start up the database and you are off.
Then set up the Continuous Access sysnc between your Production and DR sites.

This of course does not cover all of the steps required. Just very high level.
Some of the holes with this process is you may not be able to add enough LUNs to your existing volume groups. You may want to use larger LUNs on the XP128 that you could not take full advantage of in your existing volume group. It depends on how your existing volume groups were created and how they are being used. If you want to make changes to the volume group you will need to backup and restore the data.

[Steven E. Protter]

Answers/opinions:
1. Is the above plan bullet proof OR is there a more viable;risk free procedure we could follow?
No such thing as a risk free apporach. Mirror/UX does not destory the original data so the approach is pretty low risk. Just for this project, you might want to go that route. Make a good backup before you start. Set the write tab on the tape.

2. Is there a way we could copy data off the XP256 to the XP128 if they are not colocated?
3. Could we just create map files for each vg on existing N-4000's; deactivate the vg's; disconnect the
XP256 from N-4000's; remove pv's from XP256; insert pv's into XP128; import vg's & activate vg?

If you can connect the machines to both machines simultaneously, the mirror/ux option seems viable. You could do it more slowly through the network with scp -rp if simultaneous connection is not possible.

I am intrigued by item 3 and suggest you try it on a sand box.

SEP

[Dave Wherry]

As for your third option, I do not think so. I believe the physical disks are different form factors. I do not think the drives from a 256 will fit in a 128 can.
Also, I'm not sure if there is an import feature even if you moved drives between the same type of frame. Any drive that was inserted in my XP256 had to be formatted.

[Jean-Luc Oudart]

last year we migrated our XP256 to XP128.
At the time only HPUX servers were connected to the XP256.
We used Mirror-UX for the operation.
both XP frames on same site.
As disk size were different we have to keep same emulation for existing data.

Regards
Jean-Luc

[Stuart Abramson]

If this were EMC you could use SRDF.

I'm sure that XP-line has similar product. That may be the "Continuous Access" that was mentioned.

[Edgar_8]

Hi Jean-Luc,

You dont perhaps have the plan/procedures you guys followed so that we could peruse?

Thanks in advance!