Fast. Problem-free. On-time. New Watchwords for Networked Storage Data Migrations

Transcription

1 Fast. Problem-free. On-time. New Watchwords for Networked Storage Data s November 2007 Vicom Systems 3200 Bridge Parkway Redwood City California

2 Table of Contents Summary Introduction Data Realities Data Options Data Needs Today: Specialized Tools and Services Vicom Data Appliance & Management Software Conclusion

3 Summary With the rise of networked storage infrastructure such as SAN, NAS, and iscsi, data migration is also no longer a simple matter of copying data from one system to another. The operation now requires data transport across physical and logical boundaries of different systems, storage architectures, and software, significantly raising the complexity of each migration. To make matters worse, over the past 15 years, interface speeds have not kept pace with storage density improvements, and migration windows have shrunk to just a few scarce hours over a weekend. Delivery of problem-free data migrations today is fast becoming a critical and recurring IT management issue. This paper compares conventional solutions with emerging networked storage needs, and explains how Vicom s technology and services solve key data migration problems today. The paper also examines the importance of Completion Speed, a metric that includes planning, pre-test and verification in addition to migration itself, needed to ensure the storage systems are fully available for operations on-time and on-budget. 3

4 Fast. Problem-free. On-time. New Watchwords for Networked Storage Data s 1. Introduction We re in the Information Age, and skyrocketing data growth is now an inescapable part of IT life. So is the management, operational, and fiscal problems non-stop growth presents for data storage managers. To answer the call, the IT industry has responded with storage network technologies like SAN, NAS, and virtualization technologies to enable organizations a means of handling large-scale storage. While these innovations have advanced the causes of large-scale data management, availability, and cost, the crush of new technologies and solutions has dramatically raised the complexity of IT environments. Across the board, from small businesses to large enterprises, storage networks and systems are a heterogeneous mixture of different system makes, technologies, and software versions spanning multiple product generations getting larger and more complex by the day. As CIOs and IT managers meet emerging challenges by adopting new technologies and infrastructure, a less visible, Increasing complexity Emerging Data Dilemma Data storage growth Data migration New technology integration More Shrinking Stakeholders migration windows More migrations per data life cycle but growing problem of data migration looms large and unaddressed. The issue: data has an inherently longer life than the storage systems that contain it. Today, when you store data, you can count on moving it multiple times to a new or re-purposed system over the data life cycle. To further complicate matters, with storage networks like SAN, IP, or iscsi, data migration is no longer a simple matter of copying data from one system to another. Even small-scale data migrations can require transport across physical and logical boundaries of different systems, storage architectures, and software with countless variations of device drivers and operating systems migrations are where new meets 4

5 legacy, a prime source of system incompatibilities. Moving increasingly larger volumes of data also takes longer since interface speeds have not kept up with storage density improvements. Organizationally, large-scale migrations touch more people and processes, requiring additional preparation and downtime. Unfortunately, migration downtime runs contrary to the always on, 24x7 demands of Internet-age business operations. Over the last 15 years, migration windows have been reduced from days to a just few hours over a weekend. Table 1. Data User Statistics Data Planning Ability Exceeded planned staff time 83% Exceeded planned downtime 81% Exceeded budget 54% Problems Experienced During Data s Extended/unexpected downtime 69% Technical compatibility issues 48% Data corruption 37% Application performance issues 36% Missed data or data loss 32% Other 6% No problems experienced 25% Tolerance for Downtime Application downtime that can be tolerated in critical applications before adverse impact on business Downtime Enterprise Mid-tier Co. None 14% 5% <1 hr 22% 20% 1-4 hr 23% 33% 5-12 hr 17% 16% hr 10% 11% >24 hr 10% 11% Don t know 3% 5% Source: User Survey Reveals Data Challenges Infostor (May 2005)/ESG/Softek Not surprisingly, just as new storage topologies and virtualization methods have evolved to address the enormous scale and complexity of today s data storage needs, new methods and technologies are needed to move the large volumes of enterprise data throughout its life cycle. Based on experience in delivering hundreds of enterprise migrations with a purpose-built data migration appliance, Vicom Systems has perfected a set of specialized tools and implementation services that simplify and automate even the most complex migrations. This paper compares conventional methods with emerging requirements and explains how Vicom s appliance and services address the emerging problems of data migrations, from small to large-scale. 2. Data Realities Data migrations, of course, have been an integral part of IT administration for over 30 years. However, whereas the data migration once meant simply copying data from old to new systems, the task has become considerably more complicated as storage architectures have shifted from DAS to large-scale network storage topologies. As shown in the survey results of Table 1, the unpredictability of data migrations has begun to have a pronounced impact on IT operations and service levels. With mid-sized and large storage systems now ranging from 100-terabyte to petabyte capacities, they now serve tens to hundreds of servers via storage networks. As a result, mid-tolarge scale migrations not only move data, but they must also consolidate, and re-configure data for tens to hundreds of servers, LUNs and file systems. Typically, storage and servers are sourced from multiple manufacturers, while architectures include virtualized components, converged storage network architectures like iscsi and SAN, and numerous storage applications. On top of this, compliance requirements impose additional requirements for medium and long-term data retention. The environmental complexity has strained conventional data migration methods to their limits. Data migrations must be performed in spite of quantum jumps in scale and system 5

6 complexity, while 24x7 operational needs constrain migration windows. In many organizations, migrations windows have shrunk from several days to a few hours over a weekend. To accommodate these limitations large data migrations are performed piecemeal, often taking months of weekend overtime assignments to complete. Drivers: Technology Refresh and Routine Management For the IT manager, new storage frequently involves the introduction of new technologies that change existing infrastructure. Even same-vendor upgrades often require installation of new drivers to ensure compatible operating system versions on servers that access the storage. Technology refresh, the most common reason for data migrations today, provides an excellent opportunity to modernize infrastructure. Due to rapid storage growth, data migrations are also needed for physical movement and consolidation of data centers. But before any of these migrations can be undertaken, driver and OS updates, remapping or re-architecting infrastructure are required. Due to the complexity and scale of these migrations, cross-business unit and multi-departmental coordination is frequently required before the migration can be started. Including planning, pre-migration, post-migration testing, and the migration itself, large migrations usually take months to complete. In addition to technology upgrade, routine data migrations must also be made for everyday infrastructure maintenance, operation and business reasons. These include server and storage equipment replacements, relocation, data consolidation, lease renewals, and workload balancing. Although routine migrations tend to be more limited in scale, they are also performed more frequently. Due to their lower complexity, manual and storage application software are a frequent choice for these migrations, rather than specialized tools. File-based, volume copying and replication methods all adversely affect normal system operations. Thus, despite their limited scale, even routine migrations can require several weekends and staff overtime to complete them. 3. Data Options There are a number of methods and dedicated tools available to perform data migration. Regardless of method, all require physical data mover consisting of server, array, switch, or appliance. Management of the data migration is accomplished manually, with storage management software, or with dedicated data migration software. Selection criteria will vary with migration objectives, storage environment composition, internal service level agreements, need for fallback options, staffing, and budget. 6

7 Server SAN Server-based s Proven through decades of use, server-based migrations are a popular choice of IT managers for small data migrations. Because existing data must be moved from one storage platform to a new one, any of several methods data replication using server-processing power may be used. One of the more common choices to mirror data from old to new storage using native, server-based tools or third-party applications. Copying a storage system image to tape and then restoring the data to the new system is another method. A third, more efficient option is to use dedicated data migration software on the server that provides greater degree of control over the migration operation than with storage or data management applications. Figure 1. Server-based Advantages. One of the principal advantages of server-based migrations is lower cost, particularly if native software is used, since neither additional hardware nor software purchases are required. Use of existing system and software also eliminates need for application training. Mirroring applications enable continued write access to the source (old) storage while the target (new) storage is updated in the background. From a management standpoint, datasets may be moved individually and reorganized at the same time. Data is copied at a logical level rather than at the physical level, and data may be moved transparently between systems from different vendors as long as the server supports both old and new storage. Data migration applications are preferable to system software and mirroring because of the better control afforded to the migration process. In addition, server applications can continue to run in the foreground, even while a migration is underway. If a migration application is used, automation and management should be among the primary reasons for choosing it over other applications. At minimum, the migration software should include provisions for SAN discovery, migration planning, and active migration management and controls. Disadvantages. Numerous implementation disadvantages offset the cost and operating benefits of server-based migrations, particularly as the scale of migrations increase. Because the server CPU is used as the data mover, system throughput is reduced, and can add months to the migration if performed as a background task to existing operations. Constant monitoring of the migration is required to avoid excessive overhead. If the migration is performed over a network, extensive planning and testing are needed to prevent operations from adversely affecting customer and employee service levels. 7

8 To move data between source and targeted storage, serverbased methods also require that the system support both old and new storage systems at the same time. Since storage systems are closely tied to operating systems and drivers, system and software incompatibilities often complicate or even prevent migrations. The need to install and manage different versions of operating systems and drivers is further complicated when multiple servers are involved. When multiple servers are involved (frequently the case for large migrations), configurations and setup must be repeated for each server. And for each unique server configuration, testing is required before migration can be started. If non-native replication software is considered, the incremental costs of additional software licenses, training, and testing need to be taken into account. In addition, internal service level agreements and long-duration migrations may require support expenditures. Server-based migration advantages must be balanced against operational costs. software can be intrusive to system operation, and its use of server resources can destabilize an environment and prolong migrations unnecessarily if not properly installed. The application must not only be installed, but it must also be removed upon migration completion. Depending on implementation, the added migration load on the CPU can adversely impact application, I/O channel, and controller performance, especially if too many migrations are performed in parallel. Array-based s Servers Like server-based migrations, array-based migrations have been proven through years of use in migrating data to and from large enterprise storage arrays. Arrays SAN Figure 2. Array-based Advantages. Used for moving mission-critical data, array-based migrations can be used for online or offline migrations and synchronous or asynchronous migration between remote data centers. On a relative basis, I/O architecture, dedicated processing power, and caching usually make array-based migrations many times faster than server-based migrations. Disadvantages. Array-based migrations are frequently limited to arrays from the same manufacturer (i.e., like-to-like migrations), since controllers and software from these manufacturers will not readily connect to controller of a different make. In addition, due to intimate relationships between storage and supporting host software, backward OS compatibility and support is often limited to only one preceding generation of software a conspicuous problem for legacy storage systems. Array-based migrations also require installation of replication software on both source 8

9 and target storage, which can increase migration costs substantially. Enterprise arrays usually require expensive links such as ESCON, FICON, or ATM to perform the migration. Not only do these add cost, but they also require additional backplane slots, which are often unavailable in legacy systems. Array-to-array migrations may be conceptually simple, but their implementation is not. Most are used in conjunction with highdemand, enterprise applications. As a rule, changes in array configuration are needed in nearly all migrations, and detailed planning and preparation are required. For example, migration for a popular brand of enterprise array first requires binary file changes to configure the replication software application for the operation. The large number of servers and LUNs that are involved in the operation also complicates array-based migrations. Even though replication software can be used to perform the migration, these applications are designed for different purposes. As a result, they lack the discovery, planning, and management capabilities desirable for migrations, which contributes to increased labor, risk, and time required. Servers Switch-based s Data migrations performed by intelligent Fibre Channel switches offer advantages of physical connectivity not only between servers and storage, but also between any SAN-connected storage systems. Switch SAN Figure 3. Switch-based Advantages. Switch-based migrations offer the immediate benefit of eliminating issues of physical and logical connection that can arise in large-scale data migrations. Server-transparent data movement is enabled, and potentially, data can be migrated between any servers or storage on the fabric. Disadvantages. Despite the conceptual appeal of migrating data with an intelligent switch, current implementations have a number of operational and implementation shortfalls to overcome before they are widely practical. For one, to achieve manufacturing and design economies of scale, switches are designed for compatibility with a broad set of current, rather than legacy systems migrations require extensive legacy and exception handling whereas switches are designed for volume manufacture and system compatibility. Switch-based migrations also fall short in their support for fabrics from other switch vendors. Consequently, switch-based migrations are problematic for medium and large enterprise environments, which nearly always include a substantial legacy component and fabrics from multiple vendors. Moreover, in order to ensure consistency of the migrated data, all I/O paths from server or to storage must pass through an expensive, special- 9

10 purpose migration blade or switch, which is capable of redirecting server I/O to the target storage. Large switches also comprise the nerve center of the SAN, and unless special measures are taken, switch-based migrations can easily destabilize an entire SAN s performance. From a configuration standpoint, this migration element must be inserted into the data path, requiring systems to be taken offline before the migration can proceed. Besides legacy compatibility issues, vendor-specific problems present similar problems for switch-based migrations. Despite years of SCSI command usage and standardization, storage vendors continue to add vendor-unique functionality to differentiate them. For example, vendor unique implementations are often used in multi-path storage access, which is needed for online data migrations. Finally, today s switch-based migrations lack adequate planning tools needed to ensure problem-free migrations. Servers Appliance SAN Figure 4. Appliance-based Appliance-based s Depending on design, data migration appliances can offer significant advantages over server, array and switch-based alternatives, especially if equipped with data migration software. software designed for the appliance can deliver the same functionality of server-based data migration software with none of its limitations. In addition, if the appliance employs virtualization, it can add to total data mover capacity while achieving superior platform and operational transparency over both arrays and switches. Advantages. Designed specifically for data migration, an appliance serves as independent data mover that does its job from a central point within the fabric. Unlike a switch, a virtualization appliance can be tailored to accommodate unique legacy and vendor behaviors at the application level, thereby eliminating the need to install special drivers and software on attached hosts. Moreover, because the migration appliance operates independently of the production environment, services can be provided in addition to those from servers, storage and switches. A migration appliance thus configured bears the migration workload and does not contend with production resources. Independent operation also allows installation and operation concurrent with production operations, avoiding outages as the appliance is brought online. If the appliance uses replication to migrate data to the new storage system, IT managers can immediately fall back to the original configuration if any problems arise. 10

11 Disadvantages. Appliances that are designed for storage and data management rather than migrations suffer from drawbacks similar to server-based migrations. Appliances not specifically designed for migrations may also write proprietary signatures to the disk, which are not suitable for one-time migrations. Finally, unless designed for insertion into array backplane and datapath, appliances do not lend themselves to specialized storage systems such as ESCON and FICON-attached devices. 4. Data Needs Today: Specialized Tools and Services As the previous discussion indicates, there are a number of methods available to perform data migrations. Viewed from the standpoint of IT managers, all of the aforementioned approaches require tradeoff decisions, depending on the scale, complexity, service requirements and budget of the migration need. For recurring migration needs in larger companies, IT managers may consider investment in a dedicated migration appliance, application, or switch to perform migrations, but this investment also requires training and staff resources to manage the data migrations. Given the rapidity and breadth of new storage system introductions, there is also no guarantee that a given migration solution will work with a new system within an organization s specific migration timeframe. The strengths and limitations of these methods are best illustrated by comparing them in key dimensions for: (a) small, simple migrations and (b) large, complex migrations. In Tables 2 and 3 that follow, the methods are compared based on nine key migration criteria including: Scalability Ability to handle storage capacities, LUNs, file systems, and servers over a range of interest Transparency Ability to move data across varied platform types, legacy systems, and topologies Flexibility - Ability to accommodate changes in architecture, configuration, and new technology Operating independence - Ability to provide processing power and operation independent of production systems Management - Facilities for planning, organizational sign-off, and control of migration process locally and remotely Completion Speed The total time needed move data to new LUN destinations, verify the migration, and correct problems. Risk - Ability to restore systems to original operating state 11

12 Ease of implementation - Required logistics, preparation and migration labor Cost - Total hardware, software, training, services, and internal labor. Complementary Data Service Based on experience from delivering hundreds of enterprise migrations, Vicom Systems has not only refined its migration appliance architecture, but also its support methods. Just as storage systems require varying degrees of support depending on their complexity and applications, the same holds true for data migrations. As a result, Vicom has developed a supporting methodology for planning, exception management, and migration control that are used in every migration. Due to the high speed and automation of Vicom s migration appliance, the turnkey service has been found to be economical for even small migrations. This is particularly beneficial to smaller organizations where IT staffs are small and data migrations tend to be less frequent. Table 2. Method Suitability for Simple, Small-Scale s Scalability Capability for handling storage capacities, LUNs and servers over a range of interest Server-based Array-based Appliancebased switch-based appliance Appliance Service -! " " " " Transparency Ability to move data across varied platform types, legacy systems, and topologies " -!! " " Flexibility Ability to accommodate changes in architecture, configuration, and new technology!!!! " " Operating independence Ability to provide processing power and operation independent of production systems -! " " " " Management Facilities for planning, organizational sign-off, and control of migration process locally and remotely " " " Completion Speed Time needed move data to new LUN destinations, verify migration, and correct problems! " " " " " Risk mitigation Ability to restore systems to original operating state! " " " " " Ease of implementation Required logistics, preparation and migration labor!! -!! " Cost Total hardware, software, training, services, and internal labor " -! -! " Rating Key " Meets requirements! Meets most requirements - Does not meet requirements 12

13 Simple, Small Scale s As shown in Table 2 of the previous page, methods that are not tailored to migration such as server-based, array-based, and appliance-based approaches can work, but they have a number of drawbacks as the migration grows in scale and complexity. On the other hand, specialized migration tools can address smallscale data migration needs well except that the associated training and purchase costs tend to be high in proportion to the task. Thus, many organizations resort to in-house and manual methods. For this reason, Vicom Systems provides a turnkey data migration service that requires little more than sign-off and system access from the IT staff. Preparation time and completion speed are so predictable that Vicom guarantees ontime migration completion. Complex, Large-Scale s As shown in Table 3, the differences among methods become especially pronounced when compared in complex, large-scale, migrations. Server-based, array-based, and non-specialized appliance-based migrations all pose severe disadvantages from the standpoint of legacy, cross-platform, and new technology compatibility, while also lacking speed, operating independence, and migration management. Table 3. Method Suitability for Complex, Large-Scale s Server-based Array-based Appliancebased switch-based appliance Appliance Service Scalability Capability for handling small to large range of storage capacities, LUNs and servers -! " " " " Transparency Ability to move data across varied platform types, legacy systems, and topologies - -! - " " Flexibility Ability to accommodate changes in architecture, configuration, and new technology ! " Operating independence Ability to provide processing power and operation independent of production systems -! " " " " Management Facilities for planning, organizational sign-off, and control of migration process locally and remotely - - -! " " Completion Speed Time needed move data to new LUN destinations, verify migration, and correct problems -!! " " " Risk mitigation Ability to restore systems to original operating state!! " " " " Ease of implementation Required logistics, preparation and migration labor - - -!! " Cost Total hardware, software, training, services, and internal labor " -! - " " Rating Key " Meets requirements! Meets most requirements - Does not meet requirements 13

14 Specialized migration switches and migration appliances address the bulk of these deficiencies and are clearly superior choices for large and complex data migrations. As previously mentioned, switches designed for mainstream manufacture have difficulty addressing legacy compatibility, since extensive backward-compatibility verification testing must be performed. Moreover, competitive and volume manufacturing design pressures on switch design tends to work in opposition to legacy compatibility needs; a specialized migration appliance can achieve better compatibility for lower cost, and the comparison reflects this. Of course, both migration switch and migration appliances require major capital investment and training. Large-scale migrations and large organizations tend to mitigate these considerations, but time and operational pressures can make these investments appear risky particularly if incompatibilities or unexpected issues arise. Data Services: Risk Reduction For this reason, Vicom developed a comprehensive, turnkey migration service that enables IT staffs to outsource the migration task while enjoying the added advantage of on-time completion guarantee. Vicom can offer this assurance not only because of the predictability of its services, but also because the Vicom migration appliance enjoys significant compatibility advantages for both legacy and new-technology systems. Aside from potential incompatibilities, new technologies also impose learning curve burdens on IT staffs, i.e., it takes time to learn behaviors of new systems. An immediate benefit of outside migration services is that the service engineers can draw from experience of migrating not only older systems, but new ones as well, avoiding additional burden on the IT staff. The Vicom appliance platform has been based on block-level virtualization technology that has undergone progressive revision for over 10 years, starting with the IBM SSA architecture. Over subsequent years, the virtualization has been used to migrate data to and from thousands of systems, thus providing an extensive and proven base of legacy compatibility. In the unlikely event an exception is encountered, Vicom s end-to-end control over the appliance design in which all components, including proprietary drivers are under full design control by Vicom. Corrections for incompatibilities, whether due to legacy or new technology implementation can be made quickly, without reliance on third-party providers. 14

15 5. Vicom Data Appliance and Management Software As compared to conventional alternatives or in-house methods, Vicom s ability to manage large-scale, complex migrations is made possible by patented, SAN appliance technology that provides seamless connection between the newly added storage system and existing server and storage systems. By combining this any-to-any connection capability with migration automation software that maps the entire storage infrastructure in a matter of minutes, each migration is verified and effectively simulated before it is performed, ensuring consistent, problem-free migrations. More recently, due to the popularity of unified NAS, SAN, and IP storage infrastructures, Vicom s migration technology has also been applied in the migration of NAS data and files. Vicom Appliance Platform Block-level SAN virtualization technology enables the appliance to serve as an invisible SAN connection platform to enable migration among any host or storage systems, including legacy platforms. Transparent connection eliminates time-consuming configuration by enabling migration between any host and storage device, without any modification of host OS, drivers, Fibre Channel switch, or even type of connection (FC or SCSI). Installation and configuration are simple enough that Vicom can install the appliance remotely. In addition, the Vicom appliance moves data independent of servers and storage at a rate of 1.2 terabytes per hour, which is more than is needed for most migrations, even with enterprise storage systems. Furthermore, the appliance s ability to cluster makes it possible to use multiple appliances cooperatively, delivering multiple terabytes per hour of throughput if required. Automation Software Complementing the migration appliance are unique software tools designed to deliver problem-free migrations in heterogeneous enterprise environments with only a few hours of setup and preparation. These enterprise environments can range in size from tens to hundreds of servers and storage systems and hundred of LUNs. Vicom s software migration tools automate the migration process and reduce configuration, troubleshooting, and migration time from weeks or months to hours. Moreover, because the migrated data is written in native format with no system or disk signatures, every migration has a built-in fall-back option to immediately revert to original, pre-migration configuration should this ever be required. 15

16 Figure 5. Vicom Data Process Site Survey Automated discovery (T-2 weeks) Planning Tasking, mapping (T-1 week) Connection Verification Configuration test (T-1 day) Data (T-0) Post Completion report (T+0) Completion Time Process Proven through application in hundreds of enterprise migrations, the Vicom software tools eliminate both complexity and risk of complex data migrations by breaking the migration process down into five simple steps. These include: Site Survey. Site survey software automatically discovers and gathers migration configuration information including number of drives, drive size, drive ID, HBA settings. Planning. Discovery information serves as a basis for the plan and reference documentation approved by participants before migration initiation. The plan includes action items, key contacts, source-to-destination mapping and a setup diagram. Connection Verification. Immediately before migration, the plan is tested against the physical configuration and connections. For any SAN-level system-to-system incompatibilities caused by device driver, OS versions, diverse storage type, or legacy system disparities, the migration appliance s virtualization bridges the gap by providing a logical connection. As a result, migrations proceed seamlessly. The ability to bridge driver-level incompatibilities through virtualization is a key advantage of Vicom s appliance over FC switch-based migration solutions, which do not provide equivalent OS-level virtualization.. Once initiated, data is migrated to new storage system(s) automatically according to migration plan. Because all migration is accomplished via fabric-based appliance transparent to host and storage systems, no hostbased agents are required. Built-in error checking in the management software guarantees the customer data is protected and migration is error free (e.g., migration goes in correct direction, destination disk is empty). Post- Follow-up. Upon migration completion, the migration appliance is removed from the SAN. A migration completion report is then sent to all migration participants. 16

17 Optional Data Services Vicom provides additional service offerings for each migration, including: Disk scrubbing. Disk scrubbing clears hard drives of sensitive or classified information prior to return of a leased system or other disposition that could otherwise compromise previously stored data. DMS disk scrubbing conforms to U.S. Department of Defense requirements for sanitizing disks and spares by overwriting them six times using reversing patterns of 1 s and 0 s. Remote Management and Online. When migrations must take into account high-uptime requirements, the operation can be performed by Vicom remotely during off-hours or as downtime windows become available. When systems cannot be taken offline, migrations can be performed online, as a background process. In online migrations, the Vicom migration appliance is inserted on a redundant data path from the source storage system, enabling transparent, and background migration of data to the target storage system without requiring it to be taken offline. Direct Volume Re-layout. provides an opportunity to consolidate not only data, but also to consolidate LUNs. The DMS LUN Direct Volume Re-layout service option can re-layout and re-partition both logical and physical volumes without requiring installation of the associated volume manager. LUN stacking enables consolidation of multiple LUNS into a smaller number of large LUNs or to standardize LUN size, to simplify storage management and improve performance. Vicom Data Service While the Vicom migration appliance and software provide a powerful foundation for the most complex data migrations, every migration is unique. Vicom complements its migration appliance with the services of a migration team that has delivered hundreds of migrations and over four petabytes of data under a wide range of configurations and unique constraints. These include SAN-to-SAN migrations, NAS migrations, legacy storage/server data migration, transparent support of vendorunique commands, and long-distance migrations. Extensive application experience as well as customer testimonials have shown that the Vicom Data Service can reduce migration project time by a factor of 10x-20x. In some cases of large-scale migrations, Vicom has shrunk the expected migration duration from more than a year to a few weeks. 17

18 This Completion Speed is a major advantage that the Vicom Data Service offers over alternative methods using hosts, arrays, and switches. As anyone who migrates data quickly learns, data migration entails far more than accessing a data mover or replication source. In today s complex migrations, having a high-speed data mover is a necessary, but insufficient condition to ensure the migration will support the near mandatory 24x7 operation of most organizations. Thus, achieving problem-free migrations becomes as important as the actual migration of the data. In addition to moving data, data migration methods must also provide a means to verify interoperability, migration logic, and perform pre-test of the migration before data is actually moved. Only then can the IT staff guarantee itself that the migration can proceed problem-free and on schedule. Standalone Data Appliance for Routine s Although the Vicom service covers both simple and complex migrations of small and large scale, many large organizations have frequent need to perform routine migrations to optimize performance, and reconfigure or re-purpose systems. Homegrown data movers in the form of dedicated servers and software are often used to support these migrations. And while Figure 6. Method Coverage Array-based migrations switch Scale DMA Server-based migrations Vicom Service Complexity the capital cost is low, these solutions suffer from all limitations of server-based migration solutions, and in particular, the support labor required to ensure compatibility. 18

19 To address the large organization s routine needs for point-to-point migrations, Vicom has developed a low-cost Data Appliance (DMA), an appliance-only product version without data migration software. The block-level virtualization capabilities of the DMA ensure any-to-any migration capability with no need for additional server software or drivers. The DMA requires little or no training effectively provides the IT-equivalent of a data forklift. The prior figure illustrates how where the DMA fits in the migration spectrum compared to Vicom s Data Services and other methods. 6. Conclusion Any number of approaches can be used for data migration. However, as scale and complexity of migrations spiral upwards, the management processes have reached a tipping point. Today, a medium or large-scale migration can pose an enormous undertaking of staff resources and time, while the unpredictability of the migration process stands to adversely affect business operations. Even routine migrations now involve multiple servers and tens of terabytes, file systems, and LUNs, requiring significant time and attention from overworked staffs. The growing data migration dilemma has progressed to the point that simply throwing labor at the task is no longer sufficient. The migration process is becoming mission-critical. For all but the most routine migrations, IT organizations must invest in tools or outsource to migration service specialists who can provide the tools, experience, process and exception-handling to ensure fast, problem-free, on-time bring-up of new storage systems. Copyright 2007, Vicom Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Vicom Systems, Vicom DMS, and Completion Speed are trademarks of Vicom Systems, Inc. Other company and product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. Product specifications are subject to change without notice. This material is provided for informational purposes only; Vicom Systems assumes no liability related to its use. November V