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Migrating Zerto from Windows ZVM to Linux ZVMA

Migrating Zerto from Windows ZVM to Linux ZVMA

For Zerto 9.7 and earlier, ZVM (Zerto Virtual Manager) used to run from a Microsoft Windows® virtual machine (VM).

For Zerto 10.0 and later, Zerto runs in a lightweight Debian Linux® based ZVMA (ZVM Appliance). Therefore, upgrading from Zerto 9.7 to 10.x requires a full lift-and-shift migration of the ZVM data from the Windows ZVM to the Linux ZVMA.

Before you begin

  1. Verify that the existing Windows ZVM meets the following requirements:

    • The Zerto version for the Windows ZVM is 9.7u4 P2.

    • The ZVM is connected to the internet.

    • The default gateway is enabled for ZVM.

      For more information, see Zerto Migration Utility.

  2. Open an IBM Support ticket by following the steps in Getting help and support. In the support ticket, ask for the following requirements:

    • Three sets of IPv4 addresses for network configuration.
    • An OVA image file for Linux ZVMA deployment.
    • The availability of the Zerto Migration Utility.
    • To update the backend cloud data after successful migration.
    • To clean up the Windows VM from IBM Cloud® after successful migration.

Changing the IP configuration of the Windows ZVM and preserving VPG configuration

The following steps are required only when the Zerto Windows VM network configuration needs to be updated so that it is on the same subnet as the Linux ZVMA. Without completing these steps, the migration utility does not communicate with the Linux ZVMA that is hosted on VMware vSphere, while the Windows VM is on IBM Cloud. For more information, see How to change the IP address of a ZVM server and preserve replicated data and VPG configuration.

  1. Export the existing VPG (Virtual Protection Group) data.

    1. Log in to the Windows Zerto UI.
    2. Click Lists the VPGs on the left side of the menu option.
    3. Select the VPG, and click Export VPG Settings. A JSON document is downloaded, which is used later when you import the VPGs.
    4. On the Export VPG Settings page, click Export.
    5. After the VPG data is exported, delete the VPGs:
      1. Select the VPG, and click Delete.
      2. On the Delete VPG page, select the Keep the recovery disks at the peer site checkbox, and click Delete.

  2. After you delete the VPG, unpair existing sites from the Windows Zerto UI.

  3. Update the Zerto Windows VM network configuration so that it is on the same subnet as the Linux ZVMA. To receive more IPv4 addresses, open an IBM Support ticket by following the steps in Getting help and support.

  4. To configure the network settings, run diagnostic on Zerto Windows VM by logging in to the Windows VM, and running the command Zerto Diagnostic.

  5. After the diagnostic completes successfully, log in to the Zerto Windows UI with the updated Windows IP address for validation.

  6. Pair the Zerto sites. After a successful site pairing, import the VPG:

    1. Click Lists the VPGs on the left side of the menu option.
    2. Click Import VPGs. To import the VPGs, use the JSON document that was exported in Step 1.c.

Installing Zerto ZVMA on a Linux VM

For Zerto Linux OVA, open an IBM Support ticket by following the steps in Getting help and support.

  1. Log in to the specific vCenter Server instance, right click Management Cluster and select Deploy OVF Template.

  2. Click Local file > UPLOAD FILES, select the Zerto OVA file, and click Next.

  3. Rename the virtual machine name to ZertoLinuxVM, select the IBMCloud folder, and click Next.

  4. Select Management Cluster, and click Next. On the next page, review the details and click Next.

  5. Select the applicable data store, and then choose Thin Provision on Select virtual disk format, and click Next.

  6. Select the dpg-mgmt network, and click Next.

  7. Review the details and click Finish.

  8. After the OVA is deployed, click Launch Web Console in VMware vCenter Server to open the ZertoLinuxVM console. Use the following credentials to log in to the ZertoLinuxVM console:

    username: zadmin
password: Zertodata123!

  9. After you log in for the first time, reset the password. Make a note of the new password. Then, log in with the new password.

  10. Select Option 2 (Configure Network Settings) and press Enter.

  11. On the next screen, select Option 2 to configure the static network for Zerto.

  12. In the Zerto VM console, enter the new IP address for Zerto from the management network that you received from IBM Support. Then, press Enter.

  13. Enter the mask value in Subnet Mask, the gateway value in IP4V Gateway, and the dns value in DNS name server 1. If you have two values in the dns section, enter the other value in the next prompt or enter NA.

  14. Review the summary details and enter y if all information is correct. Then, restart the system.

  15. After system restart, log in with the following username and password:

    username: zadmin
password: <Password set previously in Step 9>

  16. To enable SSH, enter 7. After SSH is enabled, enter 0 to exit the shell. An IP address is assigned to the Linux ZVMA from the VMware vSphere Web Client.

  17. After the network is configured, enter the following address in a web browser: https://<zerto ip>/. Use the following credentials in the Zerto web console:

    username: admin
password: admin

  18. Reset the password after the first login, and make a note of the new password. The same password is used for both the admin and zadmin users.

  19. Set a password for the keycloak user. Enter the following address in a web browser: https://<zerto ip>/auth and use the following credentials:

    username: admin
password: admin

  20. After you log in for the first time, change the password. Make a note of the new password, as it needs to be updated in the Cloudant data as well.

Migrating from Windows ZVM to Linux ZVMA

For Zerto Migration Utility, open an IBM Support ticket by following the steps in Getting help and support. Then, fetch the new set of temporary IP addresses for Zerto Migration Utility that you received from the IBM Support team.

  1. Run the Zerto Migration Utility. On the Target ZVM Appliance Credentials page, enter the Linux ZVMA IP address. Use the following credentials:

    username: zadmin
password: <Password set previously in Step 20>

  2. Check whether the SSH connectivity is working:

    1. Click Validate SSH Connectivity on the Target ZVM Appliance Credentials page.
    2. When you see a success message such as Established connection to the ZVM Appliance, click Next.

  3. On the Alternative Host Network Details page, provide the temporary Windows IP address that you received from IBM Support. Enter the IP Address, Subnet Mask, Gateway, and DNS Server details. Then, click Next.

  4. On the Summary page, verify Upgrade VRAs. Then, click Migrate.

    Notice that the Remote Desktop session connection to the Windows VM with Zerto ZVM installed is lost. You need to use the new IP address as configured in the earlier step to connect to Remote Desktop. Use the same credentials as earlier.

  5. Then, login into the Linux Zerto ZVMA, and use the following credentials:

    username: admin
password: admin

  6. Use admin for username. Verify the following items:

    • VPG is restored after migration.
    • Site pairing is also restored.
    • VRAs are updated to the Linux ZVMA version.

For more information, see How to change the IP address of a ZVM server and preserve replicated data and VPG configuration.

Completing postinstallation steps

  1. Open an IBM Support ticket by following the steps in Getting help and support to update the backend information in the IBM Cloud automation.
  2. Update the DNS entry for Zerto in the AD server, and open an IBM Support ticket to remove the Windows VM from IBM Cloud.
  3. If you encounter any errors during the Zerto migration process, see Why does the Zerto Migration from Windows Zerto Virtual Manager to Linux ZVM Appliance fail?