Preparing the network configuration for partition mobility
You need to verify that the network is configured correctly so that you can successfully migrate the mobile partition from the source server to the destination server by using the Hardware Management Console (HMC). This includes tasks such as creating a Shared Ethernet Adapter on the source and destination Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) logical partitions and creating at least one virtual Ethernet adapter on the mobile partition.
About this task
During a partition migration, if the mobile partition is on the PVID of non-PVID adapter on the VIOS logical partition, the migration operation fails. The PVID of non-PVID adapter in the VIOS logical partition cannot be used by any Virtual I/O Client logical partitions because any packets on the PVID of non-PVID adapter would be dropped to be compliant with the IEEE VLAN specification.
To prepare the network configuration for active or inactive partition mobility, complete the following tasks.
Note: Partition
mobility fails if you enabled one of the following security settings on the VIOS logical partitions:
- If you have set network security to the high mode by using the viosecure command on the VIOS command-line interface
- If you have enabled a profile that impacts network connectivity by using the viosecure command on the VIOS command-line interface
| Network planning tasks | Active mobility task | Inactive mobility task | Information resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Create a Shared Ethernet Adapter on the source and destination Virtual I/O Server logical partition using the HMC. | X | X | Creating a Shared Ethernet Adapter for a VIOS logical partition using the HMC |
| 2. Configure virtual Ethernet adapters on the source and destination Virtual I/O Server logical partitions. | X | X | Configuring a virtual Ethernet adapter using the HMC |
| 3. Create at least one
virtual Ethernet adapter on the mobile partition. Note: During a partition migration or suspend operation,
if the source partition has at least one virtual Ethernet adapter
that is disabled, the migration or suspend operation fails.
|
X | Configuring a virtual Ethernet adapter using the HMC | |
| 4. Activate the mobile partition to establish communication between the virtual Ethernet adapter and Virtual I/O Server virtual Ethernet adapter. | X | Activating a logical partition | |
| 5. Verify that the operating system of the mobile partition recognizes the new Ethernet adapter. | X | ||
| 6. Set up the LAN so that the mobile partition can continue to communicate with other necessary clients and servers after the migration is completed. | X | X | |
| 7. Optional: Configure and enable secure IP tunnels
between the MSPs on the source and destination servers. Note: If the source server and target
server are at firmware level FW920, or later, the PowerVM Hypervisor automatically encrypts the data
that is transmitted by the MSPs, so that you need not enable secure IP tunnels.
|
X | Configuring secure IP tunnels between the mover service partitions on the source and destination servers | |
| 8. For VIOS partitions that are designated as MSPs, ensure that you have sufficient bandwidth. It is recommended that you use networks that provide 10 Gigabit or more of bandwidth. Mobility of small partitions with no timeout dependencies can be performed on 1 Gigabit networks. | X |
Note:
- Partition mobility fails when the Virtual Station Interface (VSI) configuration on the destination server fails. You can use the --vsi override flag with the migrlpar command to continue with the migration.
- Certain applications (like clustered applications, high availability solutions and other such
applications) have heartbeat timers, also referred to as Dead Man Switch (DMS) for node, network,
and storage subsystems. During partition mobility
operations, there is normally a short period when the heartbeat function is suspended. The following
are ways to reduce the likelihood of a heartbeat timeout:
- When the line speed is higher, occurrence of a heartbeat timeout reduces. It is recommended to have a 10-Gigabit Ethernet connection on both the source and the destination system that is dedicated to Live Partition Mobility.
- If you are running applications that are based on AIX®, upgrade to AIX 6.1 Technology Level 8, or later, or AIX 7.1 Technology Level 2, or later.
- Ensure that you are using the latest HMC and server firmware for the system.
- Disable the heartbeat timer or lengthen the timeout value before starting the partition mobility operation, and re-enable the timer after the completion of the partition mobility operation.