Preparing for data migration with i5/OS V6R1 on the source server

If you can load i5/OS® V6R1 on your source server, learn how to correctly prepare for your data migration.

Before you begin this procedure, be sure you have completed these prerequisite tasks:

To prepare to migrate your data, perform these tasks:

Prepare target server

  1. Ensure that your console is set up and ready. For information on performing this task, see Managing consoles, interfaces, and terminals in the Installing hardware topic collection.
    Note: If you are using a twinaxial console on the source server and using Operations Console on the target server, ensure that you have a twinaxial controller for any twinaxial devices that you plan to run from the target server.
  2. Verify that the target server is set up and is running with only the Licensed Internal Code and i5/OS V5R4 installed (feature code 0205).
  3. If you are configuring a server with logical partitions, create logical partitions on the target server and then install the Licensed Internal Code and i5/OS V5R4 on each logical partition.

    Allow at least two additional hours to do this for each logical partition. For more information about logical partitions, see Configuring i5/OS logical partitions using the HMC in the Partitioning the server topic collection.

  4. Perform disk unit management (for example, manage disk protection and disk configuration). To do this, you can use the Work with Disk Units option from the Dedicated Service Tools display. For information, see the section that contains procedures for configuring disks and disk protection in the Backup and Recovery Guide Link to PDF.

Prepare source server

Prepare to install i5/OS V6R1 using the information in Installing i5/OS.

Ensure that you do the following:

  1. Use the Work with Line Descriptions (WRKLIND) command to view and delete unused lines and line descriptions.
  2. Use the Work with Device Descriptions (WRKDEVD) command to delete unused device descriptions.
    Note: You can use the WRKLIND and WRKDEVD commands to view and verify that all of the descriptions listed are in use. If you are sure one is not in use, delete it. If you are not sure, you should leave it.
  3. Save the entire server so that you can restore it to its original state after performing the data migration.
    Note: Ensure that you have two copies of the backup media.
  4. Restore the server to its original state by following the steps in "Recovering your server" in Appendix C of the Backup and Recovery Guide Link to PDF. Use the Backup and Recovery Guide for the release that you want to restore.

    Feature code 0205 entitles you to run the new operating system on both the source and target servers for a maximum of 70 days so that you can complete the data migration. When the data migration is complete, you must reinstall the previous operating system on the source server to restore the server to its original state.

  5. Complete the installation of i5/OS V6R1 using the information in Installing i5/OS in the Installing operating systems topic collection.
  6. Print your server configuration information as follows:
    1. On an i5/OS command line, enter PRTSYSINF (Print System Information), and then print the resulting spooled file.

      This prints reports of the hardware resources, software resources, system values, installed fixes (also called program temporary fixes or PTFs), and other configuration information.

    2. Print a new system configuration list and keep this list for future reference. For instructions, see Printing the system configuration list.
    3. On an i5/OS command line, enter WRKDEVD (Work with Device Descriptions), and then enter option 6 (Print) to print the device descriptions.
    4. On an i5/OS command line, enter WRKCTLD (Work with Controller Descriptions), and then enter option 6 (Print) to print the controller descriptions.
    5. If you have a partitioned server, print the server configuration for logical partitions using the Start System Service Tools (STRSST) command. For more information about printing the server configuration for logical partitions, see Print server configuration for logical partitions.

Stabilize the source server

  1. Run the source server at the new release level for two weeks.
  2. Refresh the PTF level: Check for new cumulative fix packs or high-impact pervasive (HIPER) fixes. For more information, see Use software fixes.
  3. Save the entire server using option 21 of the GO SAVE command. For more information about the GO SAVE command, see Overview of the GO SAVE command topic. Specify the following options:
    1. Vary off the network server...*ALL
    2. Unmount file systems..........Y
    Note: Ensure that you have two copies of the backup media.

What to do next:

Completing the data migration with i5/OS V6R1 on the source server