Migrate Windows 2003 Cluster

[edawg]

Hello-

I have a 2 node Microsoft cluster running a fairly simple application in cluster mode.  One of the physical nodes died so now the cluster is running on a single node.  I want to P to V the remaining single node into an ESXi 55 Update 2 cluster and wanted to know if there were any gotchas or considerations I should take into account, other than P to V best practices.  When done I plan on still running the cluster software, but only on one node.  For example, do I still need to use RDMs for the disks even though there will only be one system?  This is only a temporarily solution until I migrate the software to a 2012 R2 system with no clustering.

Thanks in advance,

Erik

[rcporto]

Since you have only one node working and will use this server temporarily, there is no many gotchas, and you can select one of the following options:

1. convert only local disks using the VMware vCenter Converter and after complete the P2V process and make sure the guest OS can boot without problems on virtual machine, map the storage disk as RDM disks to the new virtual machine;

2. convert all the disks (including the disks stored on storage) to virtual disks (.vmdk).

There is another options, like copy files using robocopy, but the two options I listed should work. Take a look at this KB article for some additional help: VMware KB: Using VMware Converter to convert Microsoft Cluster (MSCS) nodes to virtual machines

[edawg]

Thank you. Will try Option 2 and convert all disks including the quorum to vmdks. Post migration will fire up the vm and assume the cluster software should start but probably still show the failed node in the cluster gui.  Will just remove the vm from the software..

[rcporto]

You're welcome and don't forget award points for correct and helpful answers.

[Paltelkalpesh]

After convert Active Physical host  to Virtual, create another Virtual Machine and add in same cluster group and remove failed node from the cluster.

Another option is don't change anything in existing environment, create two virtual machines in different-different host and do fresh clustering and installed your application.

after check clustering status take downtime for the existing application and move from existing to new infrastructure.