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Migrating Distributed Volumes Between Arrays
Hello,
Today we have a VPLEX Metro setup between arrays at two different sites. We are looking into the need to upgrade those arrays. Considering that VPLEX mobility/migration is not supported between distributed devices, how do we go about migrating from the current arrays to the new arrays using VPLEX?
Thanks,
Will
ankur.patel
286 Posts
1
January 6th, 2015 08:00
What you are attempting to do is quite common, let me try to explain it further. Ill try to create a video describing this as well.
Today you have a distributed virtual volume A, which is comprised of devices B at site 1 and C at site 2. At some point the array that B is on needs to go away and you need to move B to a new array. Bring in a new array and create lun B1 that is of the same size as B and present it to vplex and claim it. You then do an extent/device mobility job from B to B1, this whole time the virtual volume A is still seen by the host. The synchronization from B to B1 is happening in the background. Any new writes to A are going to B,B1, and C.
At some point you commit the mobility job at which point now the distributed volume A is now comprised of B1 at site 1 and C at site 2.
make sense?
WillSanders
63 Posts
0
January 6th, 2015 07:00
Ok, I can see that. However, doesn't this mean that I now have two un-sync'd copies of my data, one device per site, and no virtual volume representing them to the host(s)? Syncing these together to make a new distributed volume doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, so wouldn't you instead migrate one leg of the original distributed device, and then sync it to a new LUN on the other leg using a new distributed device? If I do this I don't have a virtual volume at this point, so this would be a disruptive migration from the host point of view, right? Finally, what about in the stretch cluster scenario?
ankur.patel
286 Posts
0
January 6th, 2015 07:00
Hello Will, while its true you cannot migrate distributed Volumes you CAN migrate the devices at each site of a distributed volume. A distributed volume is made up of 2 devices/extents at each site. So its a matter of creating a device/extent on the new array, presenting it to vplex , and doing a device/extent migration.
ankur.patel
286 Posts
0
January 6th, 2015 08:00
You are correct. The host is looking at the distribtued volume and has no idea of any of these movements going on.
WillSanders
63 Posts
0
January 6th, 2015 08:00
Ok, so to continue your thinking, if you were replacing both arrays, you would then do the same with LUN C, and use a local mobility job to move to C1.
During this time the distributed volume would stay up?
WillSanders
63 Posts
0
January 6th, 2015 08:00
Ankur,
Two questions for you then:
1. What commands would you use for the extent/device mobility?
2. Based on a pervious conversation we had, this still doesn't work to increase the size of a distributed volume, correct?
Thanks,
Will
ankur.patel
286 Posts
0
January 6th, 2015 09:00
2) you are correct
1) In the admin guide it has a section on a one time migration that lists all the steps using the CLI, let me know if you dont have the admin guide
WillSanders
63 Posts
0
January 6th, 2015 09:00
Thanks Ankur. I'll look it over and do some testing. I appreciate the help.
ankur.patel
286 Posts
0
July 18th, 2015 14:00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVq41NzxyLA
here is a video on this
sunrise21
1 Message
0
July 18th, 2015 15:00
Hello Ankur,
I am trying to claim storage from VNX ClARiiON Array. I do have a mapping
file. Is just that whenever i browse and upload the mapping file i get an
error saying the name provided for mapping file is invalid. Do you have any
suggestions.
Thanks,
On Sat, Jul 18, 2015 at 5:57 PM, ankur.patel
ThomDaleyPPI
108 Posts
0
July 20th, 2015 06:00
Do you remember what you typed to create the mapping file?
Thom
Thulasibabu
1 Message
0
August 4th, 2019 23:00
Hi Ankur,
Thanks for sharing vedio; I have few queries on this; after slecting the device lun in source during mobility inside the cluster; in target nothing showing; I have site-A with VNX5300 and Site-B with VNX5400; in VNX5300 created new LUN and visible in VPLEX as storage volume; I have not created device lun for newly created LUN; will it possible to migrate same VNX5300, one lun to other new lun? if yes, then why it not displayed in target;
Please help me;