Question:

How can you relocate a virtual host server with 7 Windows VMs from one building to another across a parking lot without any downtime, using a cart, 2 UPSs, and 3 gigabit switches?

Some other possible ways are:

– What steps are involved in moving a server with 7 Windows VMs on a cart with 2 UPSs and 3 switches across a parking lot from one building to another, while ensuring zero downtime?

– How do you ensure zero downtime when moving a server with 7 Windows VMs from one building to another across a parking lot, using a cart, 2 UPSs, and 3 switches?

– What is the best way to relocate a server with 7 Windows VMs on a cart with 2 UPSs and 3 switches from one building to another across a parking lot, without interrupting the service?

Answer:

How to Move a Server with 7 Windows VMs Across a Parking Lot Without Downtime

Moving a server from one location to another is not a trivial task, especially when the server hosts 7 Windows virtual machines (VMs) that are accessed by customers all day. Any downtime could result in lost revenue, customer dissatisfaction, and reputation damage. However, there are situations where moving a server is unavoidable, such as when the owner buys a new office space in the same complex and wants to relocate the server to the new “server room”.

In this article, we will describe how to move a server with 7 Windows VMs from one building to another across a parking lot without any downtime, using a cart, 2 uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), and 3 gigabit switches. We will also discuss some alternative ways to achieve the same goal, and the pros and cons of each method.

The method we used to move the server without downtime is based on the following steps:

1. Set up a temporary network connection between the old and new locations using 3 lengths of cat6 cable and 3 switches. Plug the switches into the trucks in the parking lot and connect them with the cat6 cable.

2. Update the DNS records for the external services that point to the server, and set up a new firewall at the new location.

3. Configure 2 of the network interface cards (NICs) on the server as failover and plug in a cat6 cable from the parking lot. Unplug the original cat6 cable and test the network connectivity. No downtime should occur at this point.

4. Unplug one of the power supplies on the server and plug it into a rackmount UPS on the cart. Repeat the same for the other power supply. Carefully move the running server to the cart and plug both power supplies into the UPSs.

5. Push the cart with the server to the new location, very slowly and carefully. Change the NIC failover at each switch along the way. No downtime should occur during the transit.

6. Mount the server and the UPSs back to the rack at the new location. Plug the power supplies and the NICs to the appropriate outlets and ports. Test the network connectivity and the functionality of the VMs. No downtime should occur at this point.

The Pros and Cons

The main advantage of this method is that it achieves the goal of zero downtime, which is what the owner insisted on. This means that the customers can access the server and the VMs without any interruption, and the owner does not have to pay any penalty for downtime.

The main disadvantage of this method is that it is very risky, time-consuming, and costly. There are many things that could go wrong during the process, such as:

• The server could get damaged by physical shocks, vibrations, or environmental factors.
• The UPSs could run out of battery or malfunction.
• The switches could lose power or connectivity.
• The cat6 cables could get cut, tangled, or unplugged.
• The DNS updates or the firewall configuration could cause errors or conflicts.
• The NIC failover could fail or cause packet loss.

Any of these issues could result in downtime, data loss, or security breaches. Moreover, this method requires a lot of manpower, equipment, and coordination. The owner had to pay for 10 hours of work, 2 hours of consultancy, and 4.5 hours of consultant help. This is much more expensive than the alternative methods that we will discuss next.

The Alternatives

There are other ways to move a server with 7 Windows VMs from one building to another across a parking lot without any downtime, or with minimal downtime. Some of these are:

• Set up a new virtual host at the new location and migrate the VMs through a temporary VPN. This method requires only 5 minutes of downtime, and is much safer and cheaper than the cart method. However, it requires a spare server and enough bandwidth to transfer the VMs.
• Use a live migration tool such as VMware vMotion or Hyper-V Live Migration to move the VMs from one host to another without any downtime. This method requires a spare server and a high-speed network connection between the hosts. However, it does not require moving the physical server, and is much faster and easier than the cart method.
• Use a backup and restore tool such as Veeam Backup & Replication or Acronis Backup to backup the VMs from the old server and restore them to the new server. This method requires some downtime, depending on the size and number of the VMs. However, it does not require moving the physical server, and is much more reliable and secure than the cart method.

The Conclusion

Moving

a server with 7 Windows VMs from one building to another across a parking lot without any downtime is a difficult and risky task. We described a method that uses a cart, 2 UPSs, and 3 switches to achieve this goal, but we also discussed the pros and cons of this method and some alternative methods. The best method depends on the specific requirements and constraints of the owner and the customers, such as the budget, the time frame, the availability, and the performance. We recommend consulting with a professional IT service provider before attempting any of these methods.