How to copy datastores to new SAN?

[Fedde]

Currently we have a DellEMC Cx400 storage array to store the files for our virtual machines and a lot of other data.

We're using VI3 Enterprise Edition on Dell servers.

At the moment we have around 40 virtual machines with some 600 Gb of virtual machine files, mostly partitions with operating systems.

Now we've ordered a new DellEmc Cx3-20 because we can't expand the storage on the Cx400 anymore.

Some of the activities included with the purchase of the new Cx3-20 are copying data from the Cx400 to the Cx3-20,

these activities are primarily the responsibility of Dell but I'd still like to get a few opinions of possible ways of copying vmfs-data

from our current storage array to our new storage array.

These are the ways we've figured out:

1. backup data on the luns in the Cx400 to tape using our standard tools for this

remove (not destroying the data stores, just removing the lun from the storage group) the old luns from the Esx servers

attach the new luns to the Esx servers

restore data to the new luns in the Cx3-20 from tape

2. attach the new luns to the Esx servers and give them names like NewDatastore1 and so on

use cp or scp and simply copy files from the old luns to the new luns

remove (not destroying the data stores, just removing the lun from the storage group) the old luns from the Esx servers

renaming the datastores to Datastore1 and so on

3. are any other ways of doing this?

TIA för any advice or suggestion.

/Fedde

[MR-T · Accepted solution]

You could simply connect an ESX server to the new SAN then use Virtualcenter to cold migrate the machines (moving storage locations).

This way the machines stay in VC, they don't need re-registering, it's a clean process.

[conyards]

I concur, use the built in VC functionality rather then complicate matters trying to keep track of the SCP migration yourself.

[VirtualKenneth]

Agreed as well, just connect both SANs

[peetz]

Same here. Connect both SANs to the hosts and do cold migrations within

VirtualCenter.

It would be very cool if you could use DMotion from ESX3 to ESX3 for

storage migrations. Does anyone know when this feature will finally

arrive? Maybe in 3.0.2 already?

\- Andreas

[VirtualKenneth]

Fact is that this feature will arrive soon but they won't let anything loose, they are constantly saying "it's under NDA"

[whynotq]

You could always go with EMC SAN copy, it does the LUN migration at the SAN layer from the CX400 to the CX3-20. Strange that Dell haven't suggested this thenselves?

[Fedde]

You could always go with EMC SAN copy, it does the

LUN migration at the SAN layer from the CX400 to the

CX3-20. Strange that Dell haven't suggested this

thenselves?

But is SAN copy a free utility included with the Cx400 and Cx3-20?

I thought that SAN copy costs quite a few dollars.

Maybe I'm wrong, I'll check that with Dell.

/Fedde

[jurajfox]

SAN Copy is usually a separately licensed product.

[whynotq]

correct it's a cost option. the question is how long have you got to do your migration? using SAN copy should reduce the down-time for the project.

[AMcCreath]

Fedde,

With any new purchase for replacement you may request EMC to migrate content for you, this will enable you to borrow SAN Copy, and the Implementation Specialist from EMC will migrate the LUNs for you.

Make sure this forms part of your Config Guides they are creating for you as part of the install.

Check how this works through DELL, but it should all be the same mate.

Good luck,

Andy

[admin]

VM Converter 3.0.x worked for me, moved from SAN to SAN and no downtime....

[PDaniels]

We are also upgrading our SAN. Can you explain how you used Converter 3 with no downtime? My experience is the guest has to be powered off. Thank you.