Migrate ESX hosts to new SAN Array

[MCHurst]

Hello,

Our company has purchased a new SAN storage array and we are looking for insight on how to migrate our existing ESX SAN infrastructure to the new array with minimal downtime. We currently use EMX DMX, and will be migrating to EMC Clariion.

I was thinking that we could present the new array to the ESX Hosts, and then use SVMotion to move the VM's over, then once we are complete and everything is well, remove the old array. I dont know what the best practice solution to this would be...?

Currently, we are on ESX 3.5 U2 accross the board.

Does this sound like a good idea? Any help is much appreciated!

Thanks!

-Mike

[Lightbulb · Accepted solution]

That is exactly what you should do.

1. Present LUNS of equal or greater size than those on existing array.

2. Format LUNS as new VMFS datastores.

3. Svmotion VMs to new datastores.

4. Wait a whille and make sure all is well and then remove old datastores.

[Jasemccarty]

You pretty much nailed it on the head.

That would be the easiest way of doing it by far.

Jase McCarty

http://www.jasemccarty.com

Co-Author of VMware ESX Essentials in the Virtual Data Center

(ISBN:1420070274) from Auerbach

_{Please consider awarding points if this post was helpful or correct}

[RParker]

I was thinking that we could present the new array to the ESX Hosts, and then use SVMotion to move the VM's over, then once we are complete and everything is well, remove the old array. I dont know what the best practice solution to this would be...?

Sure what's wrong with that plan? It looks great. Just do it per LUN and not per host, in case you have specific needs for your VM's, otherwise that's how I would do it.

[MCHurst]

Great! I thought that was the best solution, I needed some assurance before I presented this to the higher-ups.

Thanks!

-Mike