Server Consolidation and Migration

[Vaibhav_6]

Hi ,

What are the high level processes, which are involved in server consolidation? Say you have 10 Sun Servers with Solaris as the platform, with Oracle, Websphere. Need these to move from Location A to Location B. What steps are involved and what your approach be towards this migration.(The Server in Location A might be a HW model which is/has reached its end of life.)

Thanking You in Anticipation.

[Robert-Jan Goossens]

Hi Vaihav,

-1- back up's (keep at least one set at location-a and send an other set to location-b)

-2- network configurations on the location-b side;
ip-addresses,netmask,dns,gateways.
mail servers and printservers.
ftp-scripts sending or getting data from a batch server.

-3- support ?? is it still possible to get some kind of support. Is it worth all the money. Older servers (older disks) tend to have problems when restarting again from a cold boot. Maybe you should look at a migration to new servers.

-4- think about licenses, do they have to be trasfered to a new compagny ? Are there license servers in question ?

I'm sure the others will add info to the list.

Hope this helps,
Robert-Jan

[DCE]

Vaibhav,

The "simplest" way is to physically move your equipment. That being said, you need to think about some of the issues that arise from such a move

Will you be able to keep the same IP addresses?
If not, then there are DNS changes to plan, and user notification/changes that will probably have to occur.

Old equipment does not like to be moved - be prepared for some hardware outages. Alert your vendors, and have them on stand by, if at all possible.

Purchasing new equipment to replace existing equipment has its own issues

Licensing
does the new equipment support the old software?
Will the old tapes be readable on the new tape drives?
migrating and testing data


I am sure others will add to these.

Dave