Moving CP+Mail to a different data center

[bijoy]

Hi

I am trying to move CP to a new better powered server in a different data center (with a new IP of course). This CP also hosts the mail server and a name server. I have only a handful of accounts hosted on the cluster, that is the reason CP and Mail are shared on the same host.

Can one of you experts suggest the best possible approach for this? Can I move the Mail/NS/CP one at a time? Or do I need to move all of them in a single try?

I tried following the CP migration guide, the new CP came up but I stopped before running the IP Migrator. I was not sure if this IP migrator would change the IPs of mail logical servers too. So I brought up the old CP and everything is now back to the old state.

My current thinking is that I can follow these steps in the order. Do you see any issues with this?

1. Perform CP Migration procedure, steps 1-3.
2. Perform IP Migration steps for the CP host
3. Update the physical box from CP (or hspackages ips=<new-ip&gt. I am hoping that this would install all the mail/ns packages on the new server.
4. Follow steps in 'Migrating Mail Server/IP' doc
5. Follow steps in 'Moving DNS' doc

Your help is very much appreciated. This whole setup is for a few cash-strapped non-profit organizations; this is not a business at all. All of my services (hardware/software/support) are completely free of charge. So I would like to perform this migration myself if possible and avoid any third party fees.

Thank You.

-bijoy

[ckaraca]

First move the cp to new dc, and deploy new servers in new dc. set refresh times of DNS to 3600 two days before migration.
Move the first DNS to new dc, run dnscreatorfast
Move second
After that use account move process and manually migrate mysql resources.

[bijoy]

Thanks for the response. I have a question though. When I move the CP to new DC, I need to run the IP migration tool (is there a way around it?); would it change the IP of my mail logical server too? causing all the mails to go to the new CP host?

I already have two web servers on the new DC and I do not have to do a full account move. I just need to move the Mail and NS logical servers to the new CP box after CP move.

Also is there a quick way to reset the DNS refresh time to 3600 system wide? I could not find this setting.

[ckaraca]

yes you need the IP migration, but if you have your cp on a single box, then it doesn't matter to take it off for a while.
If you have more services such as DNS, mail in your cp box, I recommend you to get a new box for cp (even a desktop computer can do that if you have less than 2000 users)

in all cases replication works better, don't move just replicate the service in new dc and change the DNS.

as I remember refresh times are stored in DB, you need to change the db and use the db in DNScreator.

[bijoy]

Thanks Cem. When I run the IP migration tool would it change the IP of my mail logical server too, causing all the mails to go to the new CP host?

>> in all cases replication works better, don't move just replicate the service in new dc and change the DNS.

What is the difference between 'moving' and 'replication plus dns change'? The move procedure for Mail is basically restoring the service on the new box and updating the logical server ip in the hsphere database, right?

[bijoy]

I completed this migration one week ago without problems. I had to migrate all the services hosted on the cp server (cp, mail and secondary ns) in one round. IPMGR would change all the IPs in the system. Thanks for your help.