Migrate MD3060e from one MD3260i to another

Question

Is it possible to migrate/move a running MD3060e attached to a MD3260i to another MD3260i without losing anything on it? I currently have two running MD3260i and one of them has a MD3060e attached to it and this MD3260i has a controller issue. So before troubleshooting this controller issue I was thinking about moving my MD3060e to the MD3260i that doesn't have any issue. So if I disconnect the MD3260e and reconnect it to the other MD3260i will it auto-detect my disk group and/or will it allow me to do some kind of foreign configuration import? And if it's possible can it be done while everything is powered on? Or I need to power off everything before disconnecting/reconnecting the cables?

DELL-Sam L · Answer

Hello casfr,

You can do a disk group migration & then import the disk group on the other MD3260i. Here is the link to the administrator guide and if you look on page 92 it explains how to do a disk group migration. https://downloads.dell.com/manuals/common/md32xx_md36xx_administrator%20guide_en%20us.pdf

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

casfr · Answer

I think I'm explaining it wrong. So basically I have a MD3060e that contain one disk group and two virtual disks and it's physically attached to my MD3260i X as an expansion box. And I want to know if it's possible to physically disconnect my MD3060e from my MD3260i X and connect it to my MD3260i Y ... and will my MD3260i Y be able to detect the disk group and virtual disks that are inside the MD3060e?

Unless I'm reading it wrong, the page 92 on the guide is for when you want to remove disks from one MD and put them inside another MD. What I want to do is disconnect/reconnect the whole enclosure and not the disks inside it.

Thanks Sam.

DELL-Sam L · Answer

Hello casfr,

The link and the page that I referenced is for moving disk or enclosures. When moving enclosures, you need to make sure that both MD3260i are at the same firmware version. If MD3260ix is at a lower version of firmware, then MD3260i y the importing the disk group will work. However, is MD3260i Y is at a lower firmware than MD3260i X then the import will not work. Since you are moving the enclosure here is the steps that you will need to do.

Get a backup of the data just in case that there is an issue.
Get a support bundle from each MD3260i just in case it is needed.
Export the disk group that is on your MD3060e.
Once Export is complete then you will need to power down MD3260i X and all enclosure.
Remove MD3060e, & power down MD3260i Y.
Connect MD3060e to MD3260i Y and power on in correct order. (Power on MD3060e first wait 2 minutes then power on MD3260i Y.)
Login to MDSM and confirm that MD3060e is seen.
MD3060e is seen then you should be able to import the disk group using the steps in the Administrator guide.

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

PowerVault

Migrate MD3060e from one MD3260i to another

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