Issue:
How do I migrate from a DCE hardware server to a virtual server?
Product Line:
StruxureWare Data Center Expert (DCE)
- Basic Appliance (AP9465)
- Standard Appliance (AP9470)
- Enterprise Appliance (AP9475)
- Virtual Appliance (AP94VMACT)
Environment:
StruxureWare Data Center Expert (all versions)
Physical to Virtual (VMware ESXi) Migration
Cause:
As the data center is moving away from hardware servers and towards vitalization, many of our customers are looking to migrate StruxureWare DCE from a hardware to a virtual environment.
Resolution:
In order to migrate from a hardware to a virtual DCE server, there are a number of things you need to do.
1) You must purchase the AP94VMACT activation key to activate the free AP94VMTRL trial virtual machine.
2) Download and deploy the AP94VMTRL free DCE trial VM. Please be sure it is the same version as the hardware server from which you wish to migrate.
3) During deployment of the trial VM, please be sure to add a second NIC card to accommodate the private LAN NIC from the hardware server and add a second hard drive to at least match the hard drive space of the hardware from which you are deploying. NEVER CHANGE the base hard drive deployed with the VM. These changes (at least the NIC addition) should be done prior to the first boot up of the DCE VM. Review Data Center Expert | Configuring Hardware Resources (RAM, CPU, Hard Disks, & Network Adapters) to adjust CPU and RAM to match your deployment.
4) Boot the VM, set the IP. (If your keeping the same IP address as the physical server, ensure the physical server is turned off at this point.) Video: Data Center Expert | How do I configure the network settings? Import the backup you've just created from the hardware server.
5) In the desktop client, HELP-ABOUT Data Center Expert note the new MAC address and serial number, then contact DCIM technical support. The newly deployed VM will have a different MAC address than the hardware server. License keys are tied to the MAC address so they will not work on the new server. Ensure to have your old MAC address to provide to technical support. After verifying support contracts for the license keys and the server itself, technical support can reset the license key passcodes so that they may be used again to license the virtual server. Technical support will work with the contract administrators to switch the support contracts to the new servers/licenses. They will help generate new licenses that can be viewed at https://ecostruxure-it-entitlements.se.com.
6) Import the new license keys (starting with the VM activation key) created from the previous registration step in the desktop client. It is now recommended to create another backup.
