Whether you want to upgrade, move, consolidate, and/or replace existing storage, the process of migrating data off an old storage array onto a new subsystem is an enormous challenge. Enterprise environments with a heterogeneous mix of application servers, and 24x7 service levels, make scheduling and executing data migration a complex and convoluted task. The Champion Solutions Group\'s Data Migration Tool (DMT) and methodology makes dynamic data migration between unlike OEM storage systems a reality. This solution allows complete Block-Level data transfers to occur between multiple heterogeneous OEM storage systems, without host processor intervention (LUN to LUN copy). Simultaneously (DMT) allows Block-Level application updates to occur dynamically between existing host based production applications, their associated legacy storage systems, and the newly introduced target storage system. The complete solution is simple to introduce and remove from the data transmission network regardless of whether the network being used is SCSI or Fiber Channel. Our proven synchronous mirroring capability offers unlimited safe harbor for your data including "Mission Critical" live databases and the power of open system SCSI and Fiber Channel standards allow you unlimited "any to anywhere" data migration capability.

1. Painless Data Migration
A white paper from Champion Solutions Group

2. Table of Contents
Executive Summary 1
The Data Migration Challenge 2
Downtime 2
Invasive Migration Software 2
Heterogeneous Enterprise Environments 2
Data Transfer Options 3
Tape Dump 3
Host-based Software 3
Dedicated Migration Appliance 3
Champion's Data Migration Tool 4
Champion Data Migration Tool Architecture 5
Live Data Migration 5
No Host Footprint 5
Heterogeneous Migration 6
Reduced Complexity and Risk 6
Proactive Monitoring 6
Step-by-step Simplification of Data Transfers 6
Conclusion 8
Frequently Asked Questions 9

3. Executive Summary
The biggest single point of resistance to adopting new technology is the painful
process of moving away from an incumbent technology. Whether you want to
upgrade, move, consolidate, and/or replace existing storage, the process of migrating
data off an old storage array onto a new subsystem is an enormous challenge.
Enterprise environments with a heterogeneous mix of application servers, and 24x7
service levels, make scheduling and executing data migration a complex and
convoluted task.
The Champion Solutions Group's Data Migration Tool (DMT) and methodology makes
dynamic data migration between unlike OEM storage systems a reality. This solution
allows complete Block-Level data transfers to occur between multiple heterogeneous
OEM storage systems, without host processor intervention (LUN to LUN copy).
Simultaneously (DMT) allows Block-Level application updates to occur dynamically
between existing host based production applications, their associated legacy storage
systems, and the newly introduced target storage system. The complete solution is
simple to introduce and remove from the data transmission network regardless of
whether the network being used is SCSI or Fiber Channel. Our proven synchronous
mirroring capability offers unlimited safe harbor for your data including "Mission
Critical" live databases and the power of open system SCSI and Fiber Channel
standards allow you unlimited "any to anywhere" data migration capability.
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4. The Data Migration Challenge
The complex and labor-intensive task of migrating understandably hesitant when asked to
data between storage arrays is a considerable accommodate new software installs on production
headache for all users of storage equipment. hosts.
Whether migrating customers off older, legacy
devices, consolidating around a new storage By necessity, migration software runs deep within
architecture, or migrating data to new data centers, the operating environment of an application
the variables involved in transferring data between server, requiring careful installation and removal
devices are mind-boggling. Enterprise accounts by the professional services team. The intrusive
routinely contain a diverse array of application nature of the software, its potential to destabilize
servers, operating systems (OSs), file systems, an environment, and its demand for resources
volume management methodologies, physical from application hosts, each offer red flags to IT
device characteristics, and network transport administrators.
protocols and topologies. This catalog of variables
equates to months of planning and hours, if not HETEROGENEOUS
days, of manually executed data transfer. ENTERPRISE ENVIRONMENTS
Gone are the days when a Companies IT
DOWNTIME team could rely on data migration involving
The “outage window” has virtually vanished from one big server and its associated storage.
the vocabulary of enterprise computing Today’s enterprise computing environments contain
operations staff. This period of downtime, a complex mix of application servers, OSs,
traditionally used by administrators to apply storage devices, and networks.
maintenance and changes to production servers,
has been shrinking as business applications
increasingly adopt 24x7 service levels. Successfully migrating to a new storage platform
requires Companies IT teams to maintain
Companies who were once able to leverage the detailed knowledge of all available enterprise
existence of scheduled outages to migrate data, computing configurations, and the interaction
when installing and upgrading storage equipment, among all components. The variety of possible
are now placed in an awkward position. Absent a platforms adds tremendous complexity to the data
routine downtime window, a special outage must transfer process, increasing the elapse time of a
be planned, solely for the purpose of installing project and introducing greater risk.
new storage. This can be a bitter pill for
Information Technology (IT) management to
swallow: taking business applications offline is
costly. The unfortunate correlation between new
equipment installs and loss of access to revenue
generating business applications is something
Companies try hard to avoid.
INVASIVE MIGRATION SOFTWARE
Migration software, often used to avoid the
downtime associated with data transfers, presents
another set of challenges. IT administrators,
responsible for the day-to-day availability and
performance of enterprise application servers, are
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5. Data Transfer Options
The demand for a safe data transfer mechanism has both production server stability and application
been around since the first disk drive received an performance. And if no direct network interconnects
upgrade. And, while choices for Companies are to be added, the impact of migration traffic on
organizations have expanded, the process is still local area networks (LAN) must be considered.
surprisingly manually intensive and complex. Overcoming IT reticence to installing migration
software and hardware on the host requires that
TAPE DUMP Companies perform extensive planning and
The traditional path to migration, a tape dump testing, and gain a thorough understanding
involves manually taking a point-in-time copy of of company-specific change management
data, and storing it on a staging medium. After procedures. All of this can add days and weeks to the
installing new storage equipment, the tape data is project time line of a data migration.
restored. Conceptually simple, this process has one
significant flaw: downtime. Host-based migration solutions promise a no-
application-outage data transfer process, but require
In order to maintain data consistency, application navigation through a minefield of obstacles. Without
access to storage must be stopped throughout the intricate planning and testing, along with accurate
dump and restore process. For business applications forecasts of a migration’s effect on servers and
that can accommodate an outage, this procedure is networks, host-based solutions can easily hit snags
still the simplest and the most straightforward means that sour Companies perceptions and risk damaging
of populating a new storage device. However, for I/T credibility.
those applications with more demanding service
levels, a flexible alternative must be sought. DEDICATED MIGRATION APPLIANCE
Addressing the shortcomings of host-based methods,
HOST-BASED SOFTWARE the dedicated data migration appliance provides a
Host-based data transfer tools address some of the standalone, off-host approach to the problem of
inadequacies of traditional tape dump migration by transferring data between storage arrays. Appliance
allowing a degree of application access to data during solutions eliminate the need for production server
the copy process. These solutions require installation disruption during the data transfer process. As
of software on each server accessing data to be application I/Os pass across the network, they are
migrated, and often additional host bus adapters mirrored to new storage devices. This block-level
(HBAs) to improve migration performance. The mirroring simplifies the support of heterogeneous
software resides on each host server, sitting between storage subsystem migrations by eliminating the need
the file system and device driver. Application I/Os are for involvement in server file systems and OSs.
captured before leaving the server, and replicated to
the new storage array. The low-impact nature of the dedicated migration
appliance offers a simple solution to the complexities
Host-based solutions require careful integration with of fallback planning. In the event of a problem, the
existing production system hardware and software, if appliance can be removed from the environment to
smooth operation during the copy process is to be return customers to their original configuration.
maintained. Once completed, the items added for
data migration must be thoroughly de-installed to For I/T Departments, the Champion's dedicated
return customers to the original server and network migration appliance truly represents the holy grail of
configuration. data migration. With no host components to deploy,
the time consuming, costly, and politically sensitive
The most significant problem with host-based task of installing and licensing hardware and software
migration solutions is that they are host-based. IT on Companies servers can be avoided. Dedicated
administrators are understandably cautious about the appliances can be rolled into an environment when
effects of new hardware and software components on needed and rolled out when the migration is over.
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6. Champion Data Migration Tool
Developed for use in demanding 24x7 environments, the Champion Data Migration Tool
appliance is a powerful tool for migrating live data between storage arrays. Supporting
heterogeneous hosts and storage, the DME eliminates the need for server-based software,
significantly reducing the complexity and risk of data migration.
Flat Panel Display and
Keyboard tray
Management Server
FC switches
Champion DME Modules (8)
Ethernet Switch
Tool & Cable Box
Portable shock mount rack case
FIGURE 1. SAMPLE CHAMPION DATA MIGRATION TOOL RACK CONFIGURATION
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7. CHAMPION'S DATA MIGRATION TOOL LIVE DATA MIGRATION
The mobile, rack-mounted appliance, developed Champion's Methodology and Tools eliminates
specifically for data migration, is powered by a the requirement for application downtime during
special-purpose operating system. The data migration. Utilizing synchronous mirroring
appliance, built with expandable, replaceable, and techniques, data and live updates are copied between
upgradeable components, is configured to load storage devices without impacting host application I/O
balance across multiple channels, maximizing performance. Once complete, mirror copies are
migration performance and throughput over a FC separated transparently, allowing all application I/Os to
connection. The product is factory configured for flow directly to the new storage device. At no point are
migration, requiring no onsite tuning, and auto- end-users ever aware that data is being migrated.
senses host- and device-based LUNs on initial boot.
The Tool can be tailored to the specific needs of a Champion's Tool supports multiple and simultaneous
Company's professional organization with optional data transfers for increased copy performance and
components. reduced migration elapse time. The simultaneous
transfer facility can also create duplicate target copies,
guaranteeing that high-availability configurations are
maintained throughout the cutover to a new storage
device.
The Champion Data Migration Tool supports
simultaneous, parallel migrations between NO HOST FOOTPRINT
heterogeneous storage devices, dramatically reducing The standalone appliance dramatically simplifies
migration elapse time and increasing performance. Up the data migration process by eliminating the need for
to 128 target LUNs are supported by one tool. host-based software. Each Champion appliance is
capable of migrating data from many hosts,
The Data Migration Tool provides a command line significantly reducing both the overhead of data
interface (CLI), for script-based control, and will be transfers on application servers, and the
available with a graphical user interface (GUI). Both software licensing costs.
the CLI and GUI are initiated through direct IP
connectivity to the management console. No actions No more invasive than an FC switch, Champion's Method-
on the customer host-server are necessary to -ology end tools requires only dedicated interconnects
configure, manage or monitor data migrations. between the appliance, servers and storage to comp-
Scripting support allows professional services organizat- -lete data transfers. Champion's service teams configure,
-ions to develop fully automated data transfer processing. initiate and monitor migration tasks for multiple hosts from
a single management interface at the Data Migration Tool.
Champions engineers using the Data Migration Tool
migrates data between devices using block-level mirroring.
No changes are made to host data and, in the event of a
need to fallback to pre-migration configurations, the
DME can simply be removed from the environment
with no residual impact on either host servers or storage.
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8. HETEROGENEOUS MIGRATION STEP-BY-STEP SIMPLIFICATION
Performing block-level transfers of data, Champion OF DATA TRANSFERS
offers support for heterogeneous host servers and Migration of data using Champion's Data Migration
storage devices. This liberates teams from the Tool is performed independently of host systems. The
complexity of cross-vendor migrations, and migration process begins with the introduction of the
the time consuming intricacies of each individual new storage subsystem and DME rack into the environment.
host OS and file system.
REDUCED COMPLEXITY AND RISK
Migration of data using Champion's engineers
and the Data Migration Tool is a straight-
HOST SERVERS
-forward process. After connecting the appliance to
hosts and storage, a direct, block-level copy is made
between source and target LUNs over the dedicated FC
network. Once the copy is complete, mirror pairs are
split, and LUN maps are transferred between the source
and target devices. As with any mirroring scenario,
updates during the synchronization process are written FC SWITCH
to both sides of the mirror, allowing migration to continue
with concurrent live access from business applications.
PROACTIVE MONITORING
Champion Data Migration personnel take care of all
SOURCE VOLUMES
administration using auto-detection of host and
device-side volume configurations, and proactive
monitoring of migration progress. Event-based
alerts, configured through the Data Migration
Tool management interface, signal data transfer successes
and problems to Champions services teams.
FIGURE 2. PRE-DATA
MIGRATION CONFIGURATION.
With no host agents or licenses, the factory
configured Champion's Data Migration Tool is
easily installed and removed.
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9. HOST SERVERS HOST SERVERS
FC SWITCH FC SWITCH
DME NEW STORAGE
SOURCE TARGET
VOLUMES VOLUMES
FIGURE 3. CHAMPION DATA FIGURE 4. POST-MIGRATION
MIGRATION TOOL CONFIGURATION. CONFIGURATION.
Once the Champion Data Migration Tool and target Creating mirrored LUN copies on the target storage array is a
storage are cabled into the stack, automated processes simple, single step procedure. Once initiated, the Data
running on the Data Migration Tool discovers existing Migration Tool begins synchronizing LUNs immediately.
host- and device-side LUN configurations. This information After the synchronization is complete, the mirrored LUN
is then used as input to the DME mirroring process. pairs can be split, leaving the LUNs on the target storage
device mapped to the application host. The old storage
subsystem and Data Migration Tool components can then
be removed.
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10. Conclusion
Data migration remains a complex and problematic process, resisting attempts at total
automation. Just as each enterprise computing environment is unique, each migration task is
unique, presenting problems for storage vendor professional services organizations. A solid
toolkit of tried and tested products and procedures that can be tailored to address the needs
of any migration project, no matter how complicated, is imperative. The Champion Data
Migration Tool is an essential component of the data migration toolkit.
Solving the problem of end-user downtime during the data transfer process, Champion's
Migration Tool also offers the heterogeneous support to adapt to any situation that a Corporate
I/T team could encounter. Offering safe-harbor guarantees, Champion Solutions Group assures
complete safety of customer data. Champion's Data Migration methodology has no host-footprint,
eliminating the need for host licensed software, and can be quickly introduced into a customer
environment for a migration project and then seamlessly removed once migration is complete.
Champion Solutions Group is in a unique position to deliver on the promise of data migration
solutions. With years of experience delivering storage solutions to major Companies.
Champion has the domain expertise, support structures and track record to ensure success
in managing business critical data migration.
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11. Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What modifications will I need to do to my hosts and existing storage systems?
Answer: For most data migrations you will not need to make any modifications to your host or existing storage
systems though the host server must meet the minimum firmware and software requirements to support the new
storage.
The DMT is designed to be transparent for IO operations between host and source storage. This allows the host to
retain the original source storage configuration throughout the data migration operation.
When the migration is complete, since the target storage data is identical to the source storage data, the host can
simply be booted up on the target storage.
The DMT requires that the host is FC fabric aware. Some older adapters may need to be updated to be fabric aware
before the migration tool can be placed into the data path.
Question How much down time is associated with this migration effort?
::
Answe There are two periods of host down time associated with performing an on-line data migration. The host
r:
must be shut down when the DMT is placed in the data path before the migration can begin and when the DMT is
removed from the data path after the migration is complete. For each target storage channel, two FC cables need to
be moved. Since the DMT can be fully configured before it is placed into the data path, the typical time to physically
attach the tool and remove the tool is about 15 minutes, much less than the time to bring down the host system and
boot the host system back up.
Many customers opt to simply perform the migration off-line. Scheduled planned outages often are in the order of 2
hours during which host resources cannot be used. During the outage the DMT can easily migrate 200GB of data.
Question Do you migrate all of the data?
::
Answer Yes, the migration tool copies all the data of each source LUN to the associated target LUN. The DMT will
:
assure that any new writes from the host during the migration are copied to both source and target LUN's.
::
Question What happens to my file system?
Answer: Since the DMT performs a block level data copy, it moves everything from the source LUN to the target LUN
including the file system information. When the host is booted from the target storage, the file system information will
be identical to when it was last shut down on the source storage.
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12. Question: What happens if there is an unforeseen interruption of some type while you are in the middle of a data
migration?
Answer The DMT always keeps the source storage synchronously updated for all host writes. In the worst case the
:
DMT can always be removed placing the system back to its original configuration. If a connection is broken between
the target storage and DMT, host operation can continue to the source storage, but the migration will need to be
restarted once the connection it brought back up.
The DMT is designed to take advantage of multi-path redundancy. For multi-path configurations, interruptions to one
of the paths will not affect the migration process.
Since the data migration is independent of host processing, a host reboot does not interrupt the data migration
process.
Question Can you migrate data from older SCSI attached storage systems to newer fiber channel based storage
::
solutions?
Answer: Yes, data can be migrated on-line from older SCSI storage to FC based storage. The DMT by itself does not
support the SCSI connection and requires additional Champion product to perform the bridging from FC to SCSI. The
migration tool will provide an exact copy of SCSI data on the FC storage. Once the data has been migrated, the
target storage can be directly attached to a FC adapter. Contact Champion Solutions Group for additional information
concerning these opportunities.
Question:How about the proprietary IBM SSA direct connected storage?
Answer: Yes, data can be migrated from SSA storage to FC based storage. Optional firmware and hardware must be
purchased from Champion to perform the bridging from FC to SSA and to provide the RAID 5 decomposition. The DMT
moves the data from the source storage to the target storage. For SSA installations that use host based RAID 5 data
protection, during the data movement the migration tool will remove the RAID 5 encoding. Contact Champion Solutions
Group for additional information concerning this opportunity.
Question:What if I want to change the LUN size on the new storage system that I plan on using?
Answer: The DMT will make LUN size of the target device the same as the LUN size of the source device.
Question:When will I know that the migration is completed?
Answer The DMT provides the user with information concerning the percentage of the migration that is completed.
:
Question: What will I need to do to begin using the data on my new storage system when the migration has been
completed?
Answer: Once the DMT has completed the migration, the host must be shut down and the DMT removed from the
data path. Once the host is booted back up the data can be used.
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13. Champion Solutions Group
791 Park of Commerce Blvd.
Boca Raton, FL 33487-3632
Main: 561 997-2900
Toll Free: 800 771-7000
www.championsg.com
All rights reserved. Other trademarks and service marks appearing
herein are property of their respective owners. Specs subject to
change without notice.