The system migration wizard is a procedure accessible though the Admin menu, facilitating the copy of settings, data, and licences. This enables seamless transitions or migrations from one virtualization system to another, or more commonly, facilitates upgrades to a more contemporary subsystem.

The process involves reconfiguring, swapping configurations, and copying data even on high-availability systems equipped with data replication mechanisms. Consequently, we strongly recommend, before proceeding with migration, to undertake a complete data backup and possibly, on virtualised systems, a snapshot of the virtual machine prior to initiating the migration process. This precautionary measure aims to facilitate service restoration in the event of unforeseen issues arising during the migration such as power failures, inadvertent browser or page closure, sudden PC shutdown, etc…

Migration Wizard: Step by Step

The wizard encompasses a series of procedural steps:

1. Welcome.
2. Source.
3. Source Info.
4. Options.
5. Confirmation.
6. Execution.
7. Result.

Step 1: Welcome

This paragraph encapsulates the overarching information expounded upon earlier in this section.

Step 2: Source

It enables you to specify the source system from which migration is to be conducted.
The required fields are as follows:

• IP Address of the Source System: specify the IP address of the source system from which the data is to be copied. Warning. All local data will be deleted and overwritten. The copy is made using port 3306 and be sure it is open.
• Admin User Password: you need to enter Admin User’s password for security reasons.

Step 3: Source Info

Building upon the information presented in the preceding step, it summarises the source system in order to verify the authenticity of the information, ensuring its accurate representation of the source system from which the data will be extracted.

The read-only and reported fields are:

• License GUID.
• Host Name.
• Domain Name.
• IP Address.
• Server Role.

In the event the source system is in high availability with data replication, you are displayed the “The system is in high availability” declaration that advises, before proceeding further, to carefully consider and effectuate any requisite modifications to the DNS configuration. This precaution is essential to mitigate the risk of causing disruptions within systems currently in production.

Example:
Before continuing and in order not to create disruptions, it is recommended to change the DNS configuration so that:
– The domain xxx.mycompany.com points to the IP address xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx and no longer to xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx.
– The IP address xxx.xxx.xxx is no longer defined for the domain loadbalancing.mycompany.com.
Please allow for the DNS propagation period before proceeding to the next step.

When the system is of ‘Standalone’ type, you are presented the corresponding notification: “The system is a standalone type”.

Step 4: Options

It affords you the capability to specify the migration options.
The available fields are as follows:

• Swap Configuration: if active, it swaps the ‘System Settings’ configuration between the two systems involved. Conversely, in an inactive state, the operation exclusively copies basic configurations from the source system to the present system and will exclude the following parameters related to: Network, DNS, Web server, round-robin host, load balancing domain, send or receive data from a remote system, FTP for data backup.
• Migrate License: when activated, this process facilitates the license transfer from the source system to the present system while concurrently invalidating the license within the source system. Activation occurs exclusively under the condition that the current system does not have a license, and simultaneously, the source system has an active Maintenance Contract in place.
• Copy User Traffic Logs: if active, it copies the files containing user traffic logs.

Step 5: Confirmation

During this phase, the system is prepared to initiate the migration process and prompts you to press the ‘Execute’ button to confirm starting the procedure.

Warning! Please note that the procedure is irreversible and cannot be interrupted once initiated. During this critical phase, you are advised against closing the page, interrupting, or powering off the computer.

Step 6: Execution

This stage presents a comprehensive overview of the intermediate operations that are executed during the migration process. Each operation is accompanied by a corresponding “Progress Bar,” facilitating you to estimate the expected time.

The estimated time provided is subject to variation and may not precisely reflect the actual duration. The accuracy of the estimation is heavily contingent upon the speed at which the read and write processes on the disks transpire.

The intermediate operations carried out during the migration process encompass the following steps:

• Copies the System Settings.
• Places the source system under maintenance. For high-availability systems, a temporary removal of the ’round-robin hosts’ from the “Master” of the source system is undertaken.
• Deactivates the replica in the source system, exclusively performed in high-reliability scenarios.
• Copies data. Only performed if the source system is not in high availability.
• Modifies the source configuration.
• Reboots the current and source system only upon activating the “Swap Configuration” checkbox.
• Copies data and activates replica. The process is exclusively performed if the source system is in high availability.
• Updates the certificates.
• Restarts the services.
• Copies the syslog data. Executed only when the “Copy User Traffic Logs” checkbox is activated.
• Final operations. For high-availability systems, it restores the ’round-robin hosts’ to the “Master” in the source system.

Throughout the execution, the “Next” button will remain hidden until all procedures are completed successfully. Upon completion, a confirmation message, “Congratulations! Migration was successfully completed” will be displayed, and the “Next” button will become visible to proceed to the final step.

Step 7: Result

This represents the final stage wherein the notification “Setup process was successful!” is presented.
In instances involving high-availability systems featuring data replication, it is recommended to modify the DNS configuration to revert to the prior conditions.

Example:
Now please, in the event you have changed the DNS configuration, please modify the following adjustments to the DNS configuration to ensure:
– The domain xxx.mycompany.com is resolved with the IP address xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx.
– The domain loadbalancing.mycompany.com is also resolved with the IP address xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx.

Upon clicking “Close,” the wizard will terminate, leading to the opening of the login page for the designated target system.