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Sanithsadananda
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Please guide me on relocating a data center ( all are IBM hardwares )

Hello Team,

   We are planning to relocate our datacenter to our client's office. Our hardware includes IBM Storwize v3700 as SAN and Flex System x240 . Total number of hosts is 8 esxi's v5.5.

Anyone guide me if I miss any steps more than these. Networking devices I haven't noted here.

1) Stop all services running on virtual machines ( service means middlewares ie IBM MQ,WAS,SC,DB,SCDB)

2) Shutdown all the vm's.

3) Put all hosts (8) in maintenance mode.

4) Shutdown these hosts

5) Shutdown the vcenter server .(its a vm)

After these steps SAN(IBM Storwize v3700) and IMM CMM , right? . Please advise. If I want to perform more on these two console please guide me. One more thing all esxi installed like this.

We have installed all ESXi's as embedded ESXi, typically means installed on USB or SD.


2.png


1.png


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rcporto
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Hi Sanith,

The step #5 should be before you shutdown your host, or at least leave the host where the vCenter virtual machine is running, because if you shutdown (put the hosts in maintenance mode) all your hosts, where the vCenter VM will be running?

And if your services are really well configured, you don't need stop the services before shutdown the virtual machine, just shutdown the virtual machine and the services will be stopped. Just make sure shutdown the virtual machines in correct order, for example, shutdown the application virtual machine first, than the database virtual machines.

1) Shutdown all the vm's in correct order

2) Put all hosts in maintenance mode (except the host where vCenter VM is running)

3) Shutdown these hosts

4) Shutdown the vCenter server

5) Connect directly to the host where vCenter VM was running using the vSphere Client and shutdown the host.

After all servers (physical and virtual) goes to shutdown state, you can shutdown the FlexSystem chassis and your Storwize V3700, see instructions:

FlexSystem chassis: Disconnecting power from a Flex System Enterprise Chassis

To disconnect the chassis from power, complete the following steps:

  1. Shut down each compute node. See the documentation that comes with the compute nodes for information about shutting down the operating systems on the compute nodes.
  2. Shut down each storage node. See the documentation that comes with the storage node for information about shutting down the node.
  3. Shut down the Flex System Manager management node, if one is installed.
  4. Disconnect all power cords on the rear of the chassis from the power source.

    Note: After you disconnect the chassis from power, wait at least 5 seconds before you connect the chassis to power again.

IBM Storwize V3700: Redbook SG248107 - Implementing the IBM Storwize V3700

powerv3700.JPG

---

Richardson Porto
Senior Infrastructure Specialist
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/richardsonporto

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rcporto
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Hi Sanith,

The step #5 should be before you shutdown your host, or at least leave the host where the vCenter virtual machine is running, because if you shutdown (put the hosts in maintenance mode) all your hosts, where the vCenter VM will be running?

And if your services are really well configured, you don't need stop the services before shutdown the virtual machine, just shutdown the virtual machine and the services will be stopped. Just make sure shutdown the virtual machines in correct order, for example, shutdown the application virtual machine first, than the database virtual machines.

1) Shutdown all the vm's in correct order

2) Put all hosts in maintenance mode (except the host where vCenter VM is running)

3) Shutdown these hosts

4) Shutdown the vCenter server

5) Connect directly to the host where vCenter VM was running using the vSphere Client and shutdown the host.

After all servers (physical and virtual) goes to shutdown state, you can shutdown the FlexSystem chassis and your Storwize V3700, see instructions:

FlexSystem chassis: Disconnecting power from a Flex System Enterprise Chassis

To disconnect the chassis from power, complete the following steps:

  1. Shut down each compute node. See the documentation that comes with the compute nodes for information about shutting down the operating systems on the compute nodes.
  2. Shut down each storage node. See the documentation that comes with the storage node for information about shutting down the node.
  3. Shut down the Flex System Manager management node, if one is installed.
  4. Disconnect all power cords on the rear of the chassis from the power source.

    Note: After you disconnect the chassis from power, wait at least 5 seconds before you connect the chassis to power again.

IBM Storwize V3700: Redbook SG248107 - Implementing the IBM Storwize V3700

powerv3700.JPG

---

Richardson Porto
Senior Infrastructure Specialist
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/richardsonporto
Sanithsadananda
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Hello Richardson,

   Thanks for your valuable guidance, one more doubt I have regarding esxi . If I shutdown hosts in vmware inventory  should it shutdown nodes from CMM IMM console also ?? or I want to do anything on these nodes on IMM console? Just asking sometimes it may be foolish question because first time I m dealing with these hardwares.

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rcporto
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If I shutdown hosts in vmware inventory  should it shutdown nodes from CMM IMM console also ?? or I want to do anything on these nodes on IMM console?

No, once you shutdown from the vSphere management, the nodes will already appear as powered off on CMM/IMM. You will need to use CMM/IMM only to power on the nodes again.

---

Richardson Porto
Senior Infrastructure Specialist
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/richardsonporto
Sanithsadananda
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Hello Richardson,

    Again came with one more doubt :smileyconfused:. As per your advise

1.JPG

Step 1 : I can perform without any issue.

Step 2 : We don't have any storage on that , I mean esxi installed on SD card , If I m wrong please correct me ,

Step 3 : I cant find any option to shutdown the management node .

Step 4 : I can perform.

I got one step to shutdown the management node from IBM Site, But I cant find any administration tab. Should I proceed with press power button option? or any alternative step apart from administration window? Please find the attached images for your reference.

My Chasis Management Console :-

2.JPG

Got this step from IBM Site:-

3.JPG

One more thing I want to ask , Can you please tell me (how long it would take) estimated time to down these two hardware's.

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rcporto
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The storage node is a IBM Flex System V7000 node than can be installed in your chassis, but based in the picture your posted and on what you tell me, your storage is the IBM Storwize V3700. The following link shows the IBM Flex System V7000 node inside a Flex System chassis: http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/tips1039.html?Open

The FSM (Flex System Manager) is a dedicated management hardware appliance that can manage your chassis... the FSM looks like a node, but based in your hardware looks like you don't have the FSM installed, just the regular compute nodes (x240)... so, you can ignore the step about shutdown the FSM node. The following link shows the IBM Flex System Manage node, see: http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/tips0862.html?Open

About how log it takes to shutdown the chassis and the storage, after you shutdown the vSphere hosts, it should take between 15-30 minutes.

---

Richardson Porto
Senior Infrastructure Specialist
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/richardsonporto
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Sanithsadananda
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Hello Richardson,

  To back those hardware's , this would be  the order right ? If not please correct me .

1) Power On the Flex System Chasis

2) Power On the Nodes.

3) Power on the Storwize.

4) Connect the hosts through vi-client.

5) Exit from maintenance mode

6) power on the vm's including vcenter server.

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