Migrate VMs between clusters
Hi all,
I am trying to find out if this is possible or more accurately what the best way of doing this is. We currently have a Hyper-V failover cluster connected to a Dell Equalogic SAN, the SAN has 3 iSCSI LUNs Quorum, VM's and DATA. In the summer I am going to add a 2nd Cluster on the same SAN (obviously will create an additional Quorum LUN on the SAN).
Question 1: Could the 2nd cluster share the VM's & DATA LUNs or would that cause problems?
Question 2: Presuming their is no problem with 2 clusters being attached to the same LUN what would be the best way of moving a VM to the new Cluster? (I was just thinking of removing it from Cluster1's High-Availability, deleting the VM, creating a new VM on Cluster2 and attaching the existing VHDX's)
Thanks in advance
Note: We do not have SCCM
I am trying to find out if this is possible or more accurately what the best way of doing this is. We currently have a Hyper-V failover cluster connected to a Dell Equalogic SAN, the SAN has 3 iSCSI LUNs Quorum, VM's and DATA. In the summer I am going to add a 2nd Cluster on the same SAN (obviously will create an additional Quorum LUN on the SAN).
Question 1: Could the 2nd cluster share the VM's & DATA LUNs or would that cause problems?
Question 2: Presuming their is no problem with 2 clusters being attached to the same LUN what would be the best way of moving a VM to the new Cluster? (I was just thinking of removing it from Cluster1's High-Availability, deleting the VM, creating a new VM on Cluster2 and attaching the existing VHDX's)
Thanks in advance
Note: We do not have SCCM
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ASKER
Hi Philip,
The OS is 2012R2
The OS is 2012R2
ASKER
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for the suggestion and the article makes for an interesting read but we don't have budget for 3rd party software in this case
Thanks for the suggestion and the article makes for an interesting read but we don't have budget for 3rd party software in this case
Instead of creating a new cluster set up the two new nodes and join them to the existing cluster.
You get a lot more flexibility that way too.
If the new nodes are a newer generation hardware then run a Live Migration test between old and new and back again. If the LM fails, then enable CPU Compatibility for ALL VMs on the cluster so they can move back and forth.
That's probably the simplest way to do what you need without changing the storage.
You get a lot more flexibility that way too.
If the new nodes are a newer generation hardware then run a Live Migration test between old and new and back again. If the LM fails, then enable CPU Compatibility for ALL VMs on the cluster so they can move back and forth.
That's probably the simplest way to do what you need without changing the storage.
$300 a MOVE in real time, with very little downtime!
otherwise, expect downtime, and move.
otherwise, expect downtime, and move.
ASKER
Hi Philip,
All 6 servers are Dell R720's (although the 3 I have to add have about 3 times the memory) and I had thought about that but was trying to think forward a bit and thought about cross cluster failover as something to work on at a later date. I am quite new to failover clustering though so if you could advise on the pro's and con's I would really appreciate it.
Hi Andrew,
Don't get me wrong the price is reasonable but being in the public education sector I literally have no funds beyond maintenance and its an uphill battle for every penny moving forward lol
All 6 servers are Dell R720's (although the 3 I have to add have about 3 times the memory) and I had thought about that but was trying to think forward a bit and thought about cross cluster failover as something to work on at a later date. I am quite new to failover clustering though so if you could advise on the pro's and con's I would really appreciate it.
Hi Andrew,
Don't get me wrong the price is reasonable but being in the public education sector I literally have no funds beyond maintenance and its an uphill battle for every penny moving forward lol
I work in Public Education Sector as well as many others!
power off and move then!
power off and move then!
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ASKER
Thanks Philip, sounds like I am going to have to take a little time to make up my mind on this one as upgrades where also a consideration of having two clusters (just in case). However it seems like a rolling upgrade and general management might just be easier with a single 6 node cluster. I suppose if i changed my mind later I could remove nodes to form a new cluster etc. Anyways thank you both for your help either tactic seems like a valid option
Answer 2: See above. Depending on your answer to the OS question we'll see what the options are.