Migrate from Hyper-V for Vmware HA

[Ivanildo_GalvÃ_]

Hello Sirs, I was called to design a project and deploys it and I confess that in practice in the production of client never did, but I will face, study what you are in doubt pick up tips here and especially with colleagues and I thank all those who can collaborate.

Next:

Customer with:

A Dell R910 Server - Windows Server 2008 with Hyper-V and SQL Server 2008 running on it (error)

Dell R910 Server 2 - Windows Server 2008 with Hyper-V and Active Directory running on it (another mistake)

The MS does not recommend other services on top of Hyper-V

Both with 128GB of RAM, a Dell Storage Complex FC, 8Gb, yet will I receive information on how many there are and how LUNS have been configured.

Because of a bad configuration of a bad design planned Cluster, the client says that the VMs disappear on their own, lose configuration, the hosts need to be restarted, among other ailments.

Customer wants to use VMware and hardware park it is violent, high-tech equipment, new and good performers.

My mission, my project will be.

a) Convert all VMS 18 for VMware, VMware Converter makes it quiet, I have done in other client with 5 VMs in Hyper-V, with them off, you can do with the VMS-related? I honestly have not tested. So I have to put them on another server with another even if Iomega Storage and even in production, they do not want to stop, but we know that the moment of V2V is data loss, they will not be converted 100% to date, there is some better way?

b) Format R910 servers for Vmware ESXi5 and place one or more LUNS where both these LUNS enxerguem servers, virtual machines to put them.

c) Setup HA, so that the customer have a high availability in the event of a host fail.

d) Not to mention that I'll need to do a P2V of current hosts before, because as I said before, is one with AD and the other with SQL 2008 database and in production and can not lose these. Or should raise new VMS and set them up in 2008 AD and SQL database backup?

So friends this is, I need to start drawing this game and take the path less traumatic as possible, I accept suggestions from everyone. Not to mention that never worked with Storages FC, iSCSI only, but at least this part will support Dell's configuration appears to be necessary, I think

Thank you!

[weinstein5]

VMware Converter will be able to to handle both the V2V and P2V - this can be done while the machines are running and with windows macines you will be able to sync  the machines prior to cutover to minimize data loss- other choices to look at would Platespin Migrate -Platespin will cost while vmware converter is free -

Since it sounds like you will have new equipment I would build out the vSphere 5 environment first including the hosts, vcenter, and HA Cluster - then migrate the machines

[Ivanildo_GalvÃ_]

Yeah, my idea is to convert all of the Hyper-V VMs, putting on a single VMware server for now, until I finish installing ESXi on servers that are now correct with Hyper-V, mount the cluster and then move VMS back to the servers.

Now they never set up HA environment with Dell Storage Complex FC, ​​you never want to set up LUNS, I need to see something on the internet that teach about it.

And if the client does not have a spare server to migrate the VMs? That is a third server where the VMS would be temporary, and only those who are now R910 with Hyper-V, there would be another way to make this work?

I'm asking because I still have no absolute certainty that the client has a third server for VMS remain stored until I finished installing and configuring the Dell R910 in vSphere.

Thank you!

[depping · Accepted solution]

Keep in mind that installing ESXi takes about 30 minutes. Configuring can be done in another 30 minutes. So if you plan downtime and prep the migration well you could do all of it on a Saturday. You would just need the customer to buy in on some down-time. Then there would be no need for additional servers.

[Ivanildo_GalvÃ_]

Hello Depping,

But the additional server is needed because I need to install VMware ESXi on it, it connects to an iSCSI Storage capacity for good, then use VMware Converter to move virtual machines from the current Hyper-V servers to this server additional VMware. Then after this is done, I'll install ESXi on the current Hyper-V servers, configure LUNS Storage for these two VMware servers can see these LUNS, making the configuration of HA in the final stage and then move the virtual machines for additional server Cluster servers that will be in production.

I do not see a way to make all this work without stopping the environment, I think it should last all day Saturday, more ma part of Sunday.

The big question now is that the customer has two servers with Hyper-V in a cluster that does not work, it was bad configured, these servers will be formatted to receive VMware ESXi, so I have to do a V2V all VMS, storing ESXi on the server temporarily.

What about configuration with VMware Storage Dell Compellent FC, ​​anyone here know any tutorial that can help me? For never set up an FC Storage in my life.

Thank you!

[Ivanildo_GalvÃ_]

Hello friends, it's okay with everyone?

From what I've been studying about Storages FC, ​​the configuration is similar to Storages DAS / SAS, it gives you the address of the Storage HBA in which a given LUN will belong, then the vCenter and vSphere Client, just exeutar a "Rescan HBAs" correct? Using WWPN address, am I right? Only the question comes, if I create 3 LUNS of 800GB each for example, can add all the ESXi hosts two of the project?

Another thing, I'm developing another project with hypertension, for another client, only using EqualLogic iSCSI Storage, if the concept is the same as the Dell MD3000i does not have to worry about zoning the iSCSI LUNS, correct?

As for the FC zoning, will study at least the concept of the operation of the FC I understand now how to get set up and where those fiber optic cables, I have no idea, I know they are connected to a controller, there are some cables HBAs in there and they know it's the connection with the Storage of hosts, but are only two hosts, but had multiple HBAs connected, you know tell me why? It would be redundancy in the paths of the HBAs?

Can I install vCenter Server on a server that has AD + Symantec Backup Exec? Or is it better to create a separate new VM with Windows Server 2008, install the vCenter Server and puts it into an ESXi hosts? And that move the Virtual Apliance vCenter, roll? Never seen one of these Virtual Apliance running.

And finally: The client will be asked to do without stopping isoso the environment, do not see how, because I have to convert the current Hyper-V VMs to VMware, then putting in a third host ESXi, then format the two servers Hyper-V and VMware to install and then configure the cluster, etc., or will have stopped yes, what do you think?

In the configuration of the HA, a network card for Storage, other NIC to the LAN and another NIC to VMotion, is already a good size?

Thank you!

[depping]

1) create a seperate VM for vCenter! it is not supported on a server that has AD installed!

2) FC Zoning can be complex and is crucial for stability of your environment, read up well or get someone in to do it for you!

3) Most environments I have seen use 4 nics as a minimum for: Management, vMotion, Storage, VMs.

[depping]

KB article about support for vCenter on a box with AD installed: http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2003790

[Ivanildo_GalvÃ_]

Ok, already decided that I will install a new VM with Windows Server 2008 x64 and install it vCenter Server as a virtualized VMware vCenter support, even within the cluster, then I'll do that.

As for the zoning of FC Storage, as well as the configuration of LUNS, I will use the customer support with Dell to talk to a specialist Compellent Storage and thereby obtain assistance in the configuration.

Have I informed the customer that the environment will have to stop him, because ESXi will install on the current host who is now Hyper-V, then it is to convert VMware VMs, storing in a third host temporary install ESXi hosts the official lead the VMS to them again and create the cluster.

The interfaces, will do just what you said, a NIC for LAN, NIC to NIC for VMotion and VMS, in the case of Storage do not need, because the FC Storage is and the connection of hosts is with him via the HBA, but will arrange redundancy HBA for each host.

Thank you!

[depping]

Make sure you set up the NICs in such away on a vSwitch that you have full redundancy for all different traffic types!