Relocating a virtual server

To optimize resource utilization, you can relocate virtual servers from one host to another within the same virtual farm.

Before you begin

Ensure that you meet the following requirements to relocate virtual servers:

Relocation of virtual servers is only possible between hosts within the same virtual farm.
Both the source and target host must have access to shared storage.
Both the source and target host must have access to the same set of logical networks. This can be accomplished using one of the following methods:
- Network access on the target host is configured to match the source host using procedures other than IBM® Flex System Manager Network Control.
- Network Control is installed and you are using IBM Flex System Manager VMControl Enterprise Edition. Both the source and target host are configured to belong to a network system pool. In this case VMControl and Network Control will automatically configure the required logical networks on the target host during the farm relocation task.
The LPAR profile for a virtual server must be set to POWER6® or POWER7®. For more information about processor compatibility mode combinations for active migrations of POWER7 processor-based servers, see Migration combinations of processor compatibility modes for active partition mobility in the IBM Power Systems™ Hardware Information Center.
The target host must have enough memory to support the virtual server.
The target host must support the configuration version of the virtual server.
Relocation of clustered virtual servers is not supported.
Relocation of virtual servers that are suspended or in a transition state is not supported.
Source and target hosts must have a virtual network device with the same label.
Virtual servers to be relocated cannot be connected to a removable device such as a CD drive or diskette drive.
The version of a configuration file for a virtual server must be supported by the virtualization application that VMControl subagent communicates with. Otherwise, the virtual server cannot be relocated.
VMware vCenter managing VMware ESXi hosts only: VMware VMotion must be enabled on both the source host and target host between which you want to perform a live relocation of virtual servers.
IBM Power Systems only: To relocate a virtual server, ensure that you meet the minimum virtualization software requirements.
Power Systems relocation leverages Live Partition Mobility functionality, a component of the PowerVM® Enterprise Edition hardware feature. To utilize the relocation functionality in IBM Flex System Manager, you must meet the requirements described in the “Live Partition Mobility” documentation. For more information, see the preparation sections in the “Moving the mobile partition using the HMC” or “Moving the mobile partition using the Integrated Virtualization Manager” topics.
KVM only: Both the source and target host must have the same CPU family. For more KVM relocation requirements, see 'KVM live migration.'

For further information about virtual server relocation for a specific virtualization application, see its included documentation.

About this task

You can relocate a single virtual server or all virtual servers on a host by running the relocation wizard. You can also create a relocation plan to facilitate relocation. You can run the relocation plan immediately or save the plan to run later. The Relocate Virtual Server wizard gives you the following options:

Relocate and save plan
Save plan only
Relocate only
Note: With the Relocate only option, the relocation job is run directly.

To relocate one or more virtual servers using the Relocate Virtual Server wizard, complete the following steps:

From the IBM Flex System Manager navigation area, expand Availability, and click Relocate.
Complete the instructions in the relocation wizard.

To create a relocation plan, complete the following steps:

Procedure

From the IBM Flex System Manager navigation area, expand Availability.
Click Relocation Plans.
On the Relocation Plans page, click Create in the menu bar.
Follow the instructions in the Create Relocation Plan wizard to create a relocation plan.