new RP5470 server setup using Ignite

[venkatesha]

Hi,
Currently I have RP5470 server (Duel CPU, 36GBx2 on Mirror drive[OS and Applications], 2 GB RAM) with D2100 and MSA30 connected (through seperate SCSI interfaces) on which ClearCase VOBs are housed. This is server is currently in production use.

Now I have got another RP5470 server (4 CPU, 76GBx2 Drives, 32GB RAM, FC Cards, GigaBit LAN). I want to replace the above Duel CPU box with the Quad Server.
Is there a way I can perform this migration/replacement activity with minimal risk, downtime (retaining all application settings intact from Duel CPU Box)using Ignite/any other method.

[Yang Qin_1 · Accepted solution]

Yes, with Ignite you can do it. The down time will be shutdown Duel CPU server + reboot Quad Server (although it is not necessary to reboot Quad Server. It is better to restart everything with the LAN connection).

1. Run "make_tpae_recovery" if you want to use tape or "make_net_recovery" if you have a Ignite server from Duel CPU server.

2. Reboot Quad Server and interrupt autoboot. Run sea if you don't know the path of tape drive. The run:
bo P# (tape)
If you want to use Ignite server for server "clone" then run:
bo lan. install

3. following installation instruction It is better to use a temp IP, otherwise you will have two identical servers at the same time. If you don't want to use a temp IP then remember unplug LAN cable when Ignite restore completed and server is rebooted.

4. Verify harware / software configurations on Quad Server, Make sure everything is OK.

5. Shutdown Duel CPU server.

6. On Quad Server, run /etc/set_parms ip_address to change the IP and reboot the server afterwards.

7. Check applications running on Quad Server. If there is anything wrong, shutdown Quad Server and restart Duel Server.

Yang

[Berd]

Venkatesha,

Remember that once you've recovered the server from the ignite image on tape, you will still need to recover/recreate any VG's or LVOL's that were not part of the ignite image but are part of the server.

I would initially build the new server in this manner, and then create any additional volume groups and file systems as required.

I would then backup my original server, using something like HP DataProtector, and use this host backup to restore to the new server.

If you have SAN based disk, you could present the disk to both servers simultaneously and copy via dd.

Regards,
Berd

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

The answer depends on minimum downtime.

Guideline:

1) Install the same version of clearcase (got some experience with this) including patching as the production server. If you add patches to the install point, read them carefully and make sure no special work is required on the VOBs to handle the patches. Probably not but check. Note also that if you use multi-site this requires patching as does mvfs and mulitsite is a bit i/o intensive when it thinks a VOB is corrupt.

2) shut down clearcase and vgexport the volume group th evobs are in.

3) Shut down the equipment and migrate the fiber cables and such.

4) Boot the server, vgimport the volume group.

5) Start clearcase.

If it works it really should not take so long.

Potential problems include the fact that the hardware path to the disk will probably not be the same on both systems. This may require you to rebuild your volume groups from scrach and restore the data from backup.

I did mention a good data backup is a requirements. I know VOBS can get big.

SEP