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FAQs about migrating resources to a different data center

FAQs about migrating resources to a different data center

Why am I required to migrate my resources?

To continue bringing you the best service, hardware, and connectivity, data centers are continually evaluated to ensure that they meet networking, electrical, and other infrastructure standards. Data centers that no longer meet ongoing standards are consolidated. For more information, see Data center migrations.

Do I need to be fully migrated on the date my data center is consolidated?

Yes. To ensure that you have no interruption in service, we try to allow as much lead time as possible to make the transition easier.

Will I need to migrate my resources in the future?

We constantly evaluate the quality of our sites to bring you the best and most dependable service. It's possible that we might have other moves as we continue to evaluate some of the older sites.

How do I select which data center to deploy to?

The following factors might influence which data center you select:

  • Proximity to the users of the systems
  • Proximity to any other systems that this server needs to communicate with
  • Any data policies or regulations that require data to be stored in a specific location

For the list of available data centers, see Locations for resource deployment.

What data centers can I use during the transition period?

You can use any worldwide IBM Cloud data center during your transition period, which lasts up to 60 days. See Locations for resource deployment for more information.

Are the two free months of transition period resources in addition to my existing server time?

Yes. You can contact an appropriate support representative to help you through the process of acquiring your transition period servers.

How do I determine my current hardware configuration?

You can find your system configuration details by selecting your device from your list of resources in the IBM Cloud console.

How do I determine the utilization of my current hardware?

In general, you need to understand which specific resources within the system are required regarding things like the processor, memory, disk, and network. Having this information can help you better size your new system. For example, a system where memory capacity is frequently overcommitted is likely to benefit from larger memory sizes in the target system that you migrate to.

Most operating systems provide tools that you can use to understand the utilization of your system, for example, vmstat and iostat on Linux or Windows System Performance Monitor. Performance monitoring and tuning is something that you might invest significant time and effort in.

For more information, contact the Client Success team.

How do I choose my new operating system?

Compatibility and functionality are two of the main influencers when you choose a new operating system. Older versions of operating systems can present challenges with migration. Installation media might not be compatible and the server hardware might not be supported by the older operating system. The best course of action is to compare specs and ensure that the operating system is compatible. You must verify that the necessary development tools and operating system or middleware functions are available on the new platform. In general, Linux type systems are better at supporting older applications on newer versions of the operating system than Windows.

For more information, contact the Client Success team.

What bandwidth do I get with my new configuration?

You receive a current bandwidth package that is most closely related to the package you currently have. The rate for that package is whatever your current rate or package includes.

How do I copy data from my old server to the new one?

You can copy applications and application data from your old server to your new one. For more information, see Migrating resources to a different data center.

Do I need to set up my networking at the new site?

Most likely, your networking needs to change to work with the new servers and site. For more information about setting up your network, see Setting up a virtual machine network.

Can I keep my existing IP addresses?

Your new servers come with new primary IP subnets. Your current IP addresses cannot be transferred. If you need additional IP addresses, you can request those directly from the console. Specify that you're migrating your resources to a new data center.