Hi All.  We discovered an external storage (3rd Party) successfully in our FS7300. Its visible and all set. However, to use import image-mode volumes, it states in the very first screen the below and few more restrictions. And all those are common scenarios.

Now, IBM pSeries and VIOS is a well-known combination, and so is their Cluster like Oracle Cluster on top of AIX. And, that it says: It can't do. So, how to do the migrations in such cases. What is the other way to do migrations where Servers in external storage involve VIOS and is clustered. Migration guide has lots of other options given (asking wrt. to Storage Based Migrations) but it is still not clear what to use in above cases with VIOS. 

Second part to ask is:  How to make the external storage disks local here and make those mdisks available in FS7300. Where is that option, as the manual only talks about -  make a list of external volumes, record WWPNs etc, but doesn't talk about how to make them available here first.

Okay, after some checks, I got the 2nd query resolved. I can see the mdisk from the external storage, ready for migration. Good.

So, please answer the first one, which is :  What is the alternative way to migrate the Clustered Hosts and the one with VIOS etc.

Additionally, the wizard indicates to stop I/O. Unmap all volumes being migrated from the hosts. So need to understand how long this stop I/O needs to be done. Till the migration is completed/mirrors synced. Or, it is an initial cut at the time of start of migration, and then while the sync is happening in the background, one can have I/O to source also, while it is mirroring to two copies on target. As, it is not easy to get a 'migration window' for hours/days etc for huge migrations.

Please advise.  Thanks.

Hi Bacil,

• Are you using vSCSI or NPIV on these Aix Oracle hosts?
• What do you mean Oracle Cluster? RAC?
• If you use RAC - with ASM or GPFS

------------------------------
Nezih Boyacioglu

Original Message:
Sent: Sat May 10, 2025 10:43 PM
From: Bacil123
Subject: Discover Storage

Hi All.  We discovered an external storage (3rd Party) successfully in our FS7300. Its visible and all set. However, to use import image-mode volumes, it states in the very first screen the below and few more restrictions. And all those are common scenarios.

Now, IBM pSeries and VIOS is a well-known combination, and so is their Cluster like Oracle Cluster on top of AIX. And, that it says: It can't do. So, how to do the migrations in such cases. What is the other way to do migrations where Servers in external storage involve VIOS and is clustered. Migration guide has lots of other options given (asking wrt. to Storage Based Migrations) but it is still not clear what to use in above cases with VIOS. 

Second part to ask is:  How to make the external storage disks local here and make those mdisks available in FS7300. Where is that option, as the manual only talks about -  make a list of external volumes, record WWPNs etc, but doesn't talk about how to make them available here first.

Okay, after some checks, I got the 2nd query resolved. I can see the mdisk from the external storage, ready for migration. Good.

So, please answer the first one, which is :  What is the alternative way to migrate the Clustered Hosts and the one with VIOS etc.

Additionally, the wizard indicates to stop I/O. Unmap all volumes being migrated from the hosts. So need to understand how long this stop I/O needs to be done. Till the migration is completed/mirrors synced. Or, it is an initial cut at the time of start of migration, and then while the sync is happening in the background, one can have I/O to source also, while it is mirroring to two copies on target. As, it is not easy to get a 'migration window' for hours/days etc for huge migrations.

Please advise.  Thanks.

Hi Nezih.  Thanks.

• Are you using vSCSI or NPIV on these Aix Oracle hosts?  NPIV
• What do you mean Oracle Cluster? RAC?  Yes.  RAC.
• If you use RAC - with ASM or GPFS   They do use ASM all the time. However, during last two time, the source disks remained stuck and were not able to release by either lpar or ASM processes, and only way out was a planned reboot of the server. So, thats why they are looking for Storage Based Migration and preferably non-disruptive.
• Database Migration through ASM balancing - And the LPAR Controller Reboot | AIX

Best...

------------------------------
Bhuppi

Original Message:
Sent: Mon May 12, 2025 12:33 PM
From: Nezih Boyacioglu
Subject: Discover Storage

Hi Bacil,

• Are you using vSCSI or NPIV on these Aix Oracle hosts?
• What do you mean Oracle Cluster? RAC?
• If you use RAC - with ASM or GPFS

------------------------------
Nezih Boyacioglu

Original Message:
Sent: Sat May 10, 2025 10:43 PM
From: Bacil123
Subject: Discover Storage

Hi All.  We discovered an external storage (3rd Party) successfully in our FS7300. Its visible and all set. However, to use import image-mode volumes, it states in the very first screen the below and few more restrictions. And all those are common scenarios.

Now, IBM pSeries and VIOS is a well-known combination, and so is their Cluster like Oracle Cluster on top of AIX. And, that it says: It can't do. So, how to do the migrations in such cases. What is the other way to do migrations where Servers in external storage involve VIOS and is clustered. Migration guide has lots of other options given (asking wrt. to Storage Based Migrations) but it is still not clear what to use in above cases with VIOS. 

Second part to ask is:  How to make the external storage disks local here and make those mdisks available in FS7300. Where is that option, as the manual only talks about -  make a list of external volumes, record WWPNs etc, but doesn't talk about how to make them available here first.

Okay, after some checks, I got the 2nd query resolved. I can see the mdisk from the external storage, ready for migration. Good.

So, please answer the first one, which is :  What is the alternative way to migrate the Clustered Hosts and the one with VIOS etc.

Additionally, the wizard indicates to stop I/O. Unmap all volumes being migrated from the hosts. So need to understand how long this stop I/O needs to be done. Till the migration is completed/mirrors synced. Or, it is an initial cut at the time of start of migration, and then while the sync is happening in the background, one can have I/O to source also, while it is mirroring to two copies on target. As, it is not easy to get a 'migration window' for hours/days etc for huge migrations.

Please advise.  Thanks.

As you seen in the Migration Wizard you need to stop I/O from old storage to host, change the volume mapping on old storage to FS7300, discover storage (detect mdisk) on FS7300 and continue to wizard steps to map these imported volumes to host on FS7300. As I said and migration wizard mentions "you must stop I/O" and it takes time as your speed of following the steps. If your customer wants to migrate their Oracle data non-disruptively, they need to use ASM. It's non-disruptive and easy to use. 

------------------------------
Nezih Boyacioglu

Original Message:
Sent: Mon May 12, 2025 12:57 PM
From: Bacil123
Subject: Discover Storage

Hi Nezih.  Thanks.

• Are you using vSCSI or NPIV on these Aix Oracle hosts?  NPIV
• What do you mean Oracle Cluster? RAC?  Yes.  RAC.
• If you use RAC - with ASM or GPFS   They do use ASM all the time. However, during last two time, the source disks remained stuck and were not able to release by either lpar or ASM processes, and only way out was a planned reboot of the server. So, thats why they are looking for Storage Based Migration and preferably non-disruptive.
• Database Migration through ASM balancing - And the LPAR Controller Reboot | AIX

Best...

------------------------------
Bhuppi

Original Message:
Sent: Mon May 12, 2025 12:33 PM
From: Nezih Boyacioglu
Subject: Discover Storage

Hi Bacil,

• Are you using vSCSI or NPIV on these Aix Oracle hosts?
• What do you mean Oracle Cluster? RAC?
• If you use RAC - with ASM or GPFS

------------------------------
Nezih Boyacioglu

Original Message:
Sent: Sat May 10, 2025 10:43 PM
From: Bacil123
Subject: Discover Storage

Hi All.  We discovered an external storage (3rd Party) successfully in our FS7300. Its visible and all set. However, to use import image-mode volumes, it states in the very first screen the below and few more restrictions. And all those are common scenarios.

Now, IBM pSeries and VIOS is a well-known combination, and so is their Cluster like Oracle Cluster on top of AIX. And, that it says: It can't do. So, how to do the migrations in such cases. What is the other way to do migrations where Servers in external storage involve VIOS and is clustered. Migration guide has lots of other options given (asking wrt. to Storage Based Migrations) but it is still not clear what to use in above cases with VIOS. 

Second part to ask is:  How to make the external storage disks local here and make those mdisks available in FS7300. Where is that option, as the manual only talks about -  make a list of external volumes, record WWPNs etc, but doesn't talk about how to make them available here first.

Okay, after some checks, I got the 2nd query resolved. I can see the mdisk from the external storage, ready for migration. Good.

So, please answer the first one, which is :  What is the alternative way to migrate the Clustered Hosts and the one with VIOS etc.

Additionally, the wizard indicates to stop I/O. Unmap all volumes being migrated from the hosts. So need to understand how long this stop I/O needs to be done. Till the migration is completed/mirrors synced. Or, it is an initial cut at the time of start of migration, and then while the sync is happening in the background, one can have I/O to source also, while it is mirroring to two copies on target. As, it is not easy to get a 'migration window' for hours/days etc for huge migrations.

Please advise.  Thanks.

Thanks Nezih.  Also, how about the very first screenshot. What is the Storage Based Migration alternative for Clustered Hosts and VIOS.  Why it says No for them. 

(The assumption that every customer will get a SVC(Physical) with each Flash System is weird).

Also, Nezih: "you must stop I/O" and it takes time as your speed of following the steps".  So, this cut will be an initial cut, right. And not for the entire duration of the 'data-move'. I guess it will be initial cut only, as after that it will be background copy and host will write on both the copies. Correct. (As this is what used to occur when we migrated a lot of stuff into A9000R from a 3rd Party Storage using DM Tool there. Similar tech/concept).

Thanks.

Original Message:
Sent: Mon May 12, 2025 01:08 PM
From: Nezih Boyacioglu
Subject: Discover Storage

As you seen in the Migration Wizard you need to stop I/O from old storage to host, change the volume mapping on old storage to FS7300, discover storage (detect mdisk) on FS7300 and continue to wizard steps to map these imported volumes to host on FS7300. As I said and migration wizard mentions "you must stop I/O" and it takes time as your speed of following the steps. If your customer wants to migrate their Oracle data non-disruptively, they need to use ASM. It's non-disruptive and easy to use. 

------------------------------
Nezih Boyacioglu

Original Message:
Sent: Mon May 12, 2025 12:57 PM
From: Bacil123
Subject: Discover Storage

Hi Nezih.  Thanks.

• Are you using vSCSI or NPIV on these Aix Oracle hosts?  NPIV
• What do you mean Oracle Cluster? RAC?  Yes.  RAC.
• If you use RAC - with ASM or GPFS   They do use ASM all the time. However, during last two time, the source disks remained stuck and were not able to release by either lpar or ASM processes, and only way out was a planned reboot of the server. So, thats why they are looking for Storage Based Migration and preferably non-disruptive.
• Database Migration through ASM balancing - And the LPAR Controller Reboot | AIX

Best...

------------------------------
Bhuppi

Original Message:
Sent: Mon May 12, 2025 12:33 PM
From: Nezih Boyacioglu
Subject: Discover Storage

Hi Bacil,

• Are you using vSCSI or NPIV on these Aix Oracle hosts?
• What do you mean Oracle Cluster? RAC?
• If you use RAC - with ASM or GPFS

------------------------------
Nezih Boyacioglu

Original Message:
Sent: Sat May 10, 2025 10:43 PM
From: Bacil123
Subject: Discover Storage

Hi All.  We discovered an external storage (3rd Party) successfully in our FS7300. Its visible and all set. However, to use import image-mode volumes, it states in the very first screen the below and few more restrictions. And all those are common scenarios.

Now, IBM pSeries and VIOS is a well-known combination, and so is their Cluster like Oracle Cluster on top of AIX. And, that it says: It can't do. So, how to do the migrations in such cases. What is the other way to do migrations where Servers in external storage involve VIOS and is clustered. Migration guide has lots of other options given (asking wrt. to Storage Based Migrations) but it is still not clear what to use in above cases with VIOS. 

Second part to ask is:  How to make the external storage disks local here and make those mdisks available in FS7300. Where is that option, as the manual only talks about -  make a list of external volumes, record WWPNs etc, but doesn't talk about how to make them available here first.

Okay, after some checks, I got the 2nd query resolved. I can see the mdisk from the external storage, ready for migration. Good.

So, please answer the first one, which is :  What is the alternative way to migrate the Clustered Hosts and the one with VIOS etc.

Additionally, the wizard indicates to stop I/O. Unmap all volumes being migrated from the hosts. So need to understand how long this stop I/O needs to be done. Till the migration is completed/mirrors synced. Or, it is an initial cut at the time of start of migration, and then while the sync is happening in the background, one can have I/O to source also, while it is mirroring to two copies on target. As, it is not easy to get a 'migration window' for hours/days etc for huge migrations.

Please advise.  Thanks.

Hi All.  We discovered an external storage (3rd Party) successfully in our FS7300. Its visible and all set. However, to use import image-mode volumes, it states in the very first screen the below and few more restrictions. And all those are common scenarios.

Now, IBM pSeries and VIOS is a well-known combination, and so is their Cluster like Oracle Cluster on top of AIX. And, that it says: It can't do. So, how to do the migrations in such cases. What is the other way to do migrations where Servers in external storage involve VIOS and is clustered. Migration guide has lots of other options given (asking wrt. to Storage Based Migrations) but it is still not clear what to use in above cases with VIOS. 

Second part to ask is:  How to make the external storage disks local here and make those mdisks available in FS7300. Where is that option, as the manual only talks about -  make a list of external volumes, record WWPNs etc, but doesn't talk about how to make them available here first.

Okay, after some checks, I got the 2nd query resolved. I can see the mdisk from the external storage, ready for migration. Good.

So, please answer the first one, which is :  What is the alternative way to migrate the Clustered Hosts and the one with VIOS etc.

Additionally, the wizard indicates to stop I/O. Unmap all volumes being migrated from the hosts. So need to understand how long this stop I/O needs to be done. Till the migration is completed/mirrors synced. Or, it is an initial cut at the time of start of migration, and then while the sync is happening in the background, one can have I/O to source also, while it is mirroring to two copies on target. As, it is not easy to get a 'migration window' for hours/days etc for huge migrations.

Please advise.  Thanks.