Migrating VM's from UCS-C240-M3s to UC-C240-M5(BE7M-M5-K9).

[Jagadish2]

Hi,

We are replacing UCS-C240-M3 (EOL) to UCS-C240-M5(BE7M-M5-K9).

Our Current Setup is on UCS-C240-M3, as mentioned below.

Host 1	CUCM PUB	CUCM SUB1	CUCM SUB 2	CUC SUB
Host 2	CUCM SUB 3	CUCM SUB 4	CUCM SUB 5	CUC PUB

We have purchased only one UCS-C240-M5(BE7M-M5-K9) Host, on which we would like to move all our Host1 virtual Machines. We want to decommission only one UCS-C240-M3(Host 1) and retain (Host 2)

Requesting expert advice on:

1) Can we run a cluster, with 4 vm's running on UCS-C240-M5 and 4 vm's running on UCS-C240-M3 ?? Will it create any problems in CUCM & CUC DB Replications or any other ??

2) If we can run a cluster with different model Hosts, then please suggest easiest was to move vm's from Host1 to New UCS-C240-M5 Host.(like DRS or Snapshot)

Regards

Jagadish

[Roger Kallberg]

Yes you can use different models of servers for your hosts. As long as the server as such has the required specifications you can used whatever model, it can even be servers from different vendors altogether. The easiest way to move VMs are with vMotion. If both hosts belongs to the same cluster in vCenter it can even be done while the VM is running. However it’s recommended to move it during off peak hours to not affect the service.

[Elliot Dierksen]

You would only be able to do Vmotion while the machines are running if there is some shared storage that is common to both hosts. Otherwise you would have to do the Vmotion while the hosts are powered off. You can copy between hosts with scp if you don't have Vcenter, but I think Vcenter is a requirement for specs based host support anyway.

[Jagadish2]

Hi,

I think we don't have vCenter and Vmotion. So, only option left is take DRS Backup.

While restoring DRS backup, can i restore only vm's or servers which are in Host 1 ? as we are not replacing Host 2 ??

Pls suggest.

[Elliot Dierksen]

Even if you don't have Vcenter, you can use scp to copy files from one ESXi host to another via the CLI.

[Roger Kallberg · Accepted solution]

You can move the VMs by copying the files for the server from one host to another. On your question about DRS restore, yes you can restore individual servers. It would restore the data for the service, but not the VM or OS as such, that would need to be installed separately.

[Jagadish2]

Hi,

Migrated the VM's from one host to another, with help of Export and Import option from ESXi ui.

The steps are simple, but it takes bit more time.

Regards

Jagadish G

[Nithin Eluvathingal]

As other members mentioned you have two option.

- move the files from UCS-C240-M3 (EOL) HOST 1  to UCS-C240-M5(BE7M-M5-K9)

- Take backup of existing cluster, install new Nodes on UCS-C240-M5(BE7M-M5-K9) and restore the back-up.Slect the nodes which you need to restore. 

First option will see be better.

[Elliot Dierksen]

As long as you have licensing on the ESXi hosts that allow them to be managed by Vcenter, you could build a Vcenter using an evaluation license. Once you finish the migration, you can remove the hosts from Vcenter and manage them as stand alone hosts again.