Migrate physical host to zone

UNIX Solaris
1

Hi guys

I need to migrate some physical sparc server to zones (M4000) and i know that this is possible wit Oracle OpsManager. But is there also another way to do that work?

Has someone experience with migrating a physical system to a zone?

Regards
beta17

2

Hi there,
Your query leads to a lot of questions first.

  • OS version (Solaris 6/8/9/10)
  • Release/Update level
  • Architecture (sun4u/sun4v)
  • Application/DB compatibility on zones
  • Customized configuration done on current system for application/DB configuration

Believe me, this is just starting. :slight_smile:

For you to start with, learn about flar image creation for running solaris instance and building zones with flar image. It will narrow down your study.

As usual, you are most welcome to revert with further queries. :slight_smile:

3

hi psshah

  • all server running with Solaris 10, but i have to check which version :slight_smile:
  • i have to migrate some v120, v240 and v490 (sun4u) to a M4000
  • there are no special software/application running on those old servers, should work. As i know there are no db running on them
  • i used flarcreate in the past for jumpstarting, i know how tu use it! is there anything special in combination with zones, or can i create a simple flash archive from the existing server?

does this task work only with branded zones or also with native zones?

thx in advance
beta17

4

If all are Solaris 10, then there is no reason to go for branded zones/flar image creation.

If no special application/db is running, what is server being used for?
Please let us know, to provide further input.

In this case,

  • Prepare a new M4000 with latest Solaris 10 Update 10.
  • Build out sparsh/whole root zones depending upon your requirement. If no special requirement is there, sparsh is preferred to save space as well OS patching in future.
  • Migrate existing server functionalities to newly built zones.
  • Test out functionality in non-business hours by temporary moving IP/DNS name to newly built zones.
  • If all okay, Keep the older hardware for some time in case of something not working after a week or so to swith back. Else take full final backup and scrap it.
5

ah ok, this wasn't clear about the branded/native zones! :slight_smile:

one of the client will be our fileserver (samba), archiving and some web-applications.

  • the M4000 is already installed and in "test"
  • no need to save that much space, we boot the zones from SAN
  • ok, thank you for the few tips.

i have created new a simple flash-arcbive from a existing server and excluded some directorys:

flarcreate -a Ivan -n stematchtest -x /stematch -x /database -x /archive /export/flash.flar

then copied the flash.flar to the M4000 and installed the zone with the flash archive

[root@sun] / => zoneadm -z stematchtest install -p -a /tmp/rob/flash.flar
      Log File: /var/tmp/stematchtest.install_log.KkaaG4
    Installing: This may take several minutes...
Postprocessing: This may take a while...
   Postprocess: Updating the zone software to match the global zone...
   Postprocess: Zone software update complete
   Postprocess: Updating the image to run within a zone
        Result: Installation completed successfully.
      Log File: /zones/stematchtest/root/var/log/stematchtest.install28874.log

booted the zones...seems to work!! i knwo this is the simplest part and i have to work on the bigger part! :wink:

6

:slight_smile:

Let us know if you stuck up (hope not) at any point.

7

as you can see one of the systems has a "database" directory, and i think there is a Informix Database running.

I need to wait untill the SAN-Guys create the needed LUNs for my work. At the moment i can't switch to the M4000 and test everything!

do you mean that there is another way to migrate from physical to zones?

thx very much for your help! :slight_smile: