A Look At Migrating From Sun Servers: Switching From Solaris To Linux
The uncertain future of Sun technologies now that the company has been acquired by
Oracle has had a number of IT operations migrating from Sun servers to other operating systems such as Linux. Although Solaris to Linux migration is a major project for an IT department, if handled with care it can be a smooth and trouble-free transition.
Consider Using An Experienced Migration Consultant
Solaris to Linux migration is the IT equivalent of a heart transplant. Transitioning a core system from one technology to another has the potential for great disaster if not handled carefully. Since these migrations are extremely rare, once-in-a-career for most managers, few companies have the internal experience needed to handle the transition safely.
The best chance for success comes from partnering with an IT consulting company that has already helped clients migrate from Sun servers. They know how the process works and what pitfalls to avoid. They understand the whole process, from initial evaluation to long term system monitoring. Their work with a diverse client base and a variety of technologies gives them the ability to create a flexible and customized migration plan which is ideally suited to the unique needs of each client.
The Pre-Migration Phase
Solaris to Linux migration needs to be done with as little disruption as possible. This is not like reformatting and reinstalling Windows on a single computer, where a few hours of downtime is not a big deal. The goal is to complete the migration without any disturbance of normal company operation. This may mean doing it over a long weekend, or in a few hours, or even with no downtime at all.
The key to successfully migrating from Sun servers is to plan out every step of the process. Each person should have a clear understanding of duties assigned. Nobody should be standing around on migration day wondering what to do. All hardware and software purchases should be made well in advance, and the period of migration downtime should be communicated to all staff with as much notice as possible. Some companies take months of planning just so they can have an easy few hours of migration.
The Migration Phase
As mentioned, the actual Solaris to Linux migration is the shortest part of the process. With all steps carefully planned and every IT employee aware of assigned responsibilities, the new systems can be up and running as quickly as possible.
The specific process of migrating from Sun servers depends on the needs of the company, the allowable downtime, and the budget involved. An organization might install the new operating system on existing hardware, might bring in brand new servers to be physically swapped with the old ones, or might even set up a brand new server farm in a new location which can be switched to with no visible downtime to users. This latter method is growing in popularity, as fewer businesses can afford even a few minutes of downtime in today's fast-paced, information-all-the-time world.
The Post-Migration Phase
The new servers are running. The network is operating. Users are happily accessing data. The Solaris to Linux migration is over, right? Wrong.
An essential part of migrating from Sun servers is close monitoring of the new systems. Just because everything seems to be running fine for the first few hours doesn't mean there might not be other problems down the road. System compatibility, network traffic flows, and backup operations are just a few of the parts of the system which will need to be watched. Any problems which arise should be dealt with as soon as the first warning signs appear, rather than waiting until they become catastrophes.
Over time the system will become more stable and monitoring can be reduced. Of course any major IT operations will need some kind of monitoring at all times so the staff can respond to problems before they affect productivity or profitability.
Migrating from Sun servers can be an intimidating prospect because of the potential for disaster. Undertaking Solaris to Linux migration with the help of an experienced partner and taking the time to plan out every detail of the process minimizes the chance of unforeseen consequences. When done right, your users won't even realize anything has happened.
by: Steve Bulmer
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