Moving Call Manager --> New Servers 1

[snootalope]

Hey guys!

I got a migration comming up here shortly that involves returing our currently leased servers for new ones. So, I'm looking into how I can move my current publisher and subscriber, BOTH, no new machines and still retain all my user /environment information.

I'm almost certain it's just a matter of copying the db's over, but i can't find anything on Cisco's web site about migrating. Does any know where I can find a white sheet on this, or if you've done this before, how'd ya pull it!??

Also, I have a Unity server that also needs to be moved to a new machine. Thanks for any help guys!!!

FYI: don't know if this is a huge deal, but when we move our stuff over, our new server will be CCM 4.0 instead of our current 3.3(3) --- thanks again!

 

[jerake75]

One more thing...you running Unity for voicemail? If so, the ports will have to be reconfigured in CCM...4.X changes the port setup. This took me forever to work out, and the upgrade will try to modify it, but it made a giant mess of my ports.

TMH

 

[snootalope]

Yeah, we do have Unity and it's getting moved to a new machine as well... Would I be safe just deleting the ports from the CMM before upgrading, or is just as easy to do it once the upgrade is done?

 

[snootalope]

What about RAM? Is 2gb really nessacary? I'm probably going to get the DL380's which come with a gig from the factory.. here's a linky if you wanna see it:

http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=679377

That way, i'll have a cabinet full of DL380's!! with my call managers, unity, domain servers, member servers, etc, we'll have 12 DL380's in there!! sweeeeet..

I guess if 4.1.2 has to have 2gb, i'll get the extra gig, but if not, ............thinkin............. i might as well just buy the 2gb huh?

 

[jerake75]

You're moving Unity too? And CCM at the same time? Wow, you're a braver soul than I; last March we wiped out our Unity box and rebuilt the software from the bottom up...it took us two days (and with no problems or setbacks) to get verion 4.0.3 on the box (our old server had been hacked, root compromise). We went to 4.0.4 shortly before the CCM upgrade, because it has integrated mailbox creation that's only supported with CCM 4.1.2.

As far as the ports go, I had the same decision to make - either wipe them out or leave them in. It's a lot of partition/CSS changes, and the upgrade will try to create partitions and put things in them that it thinks it needs...I eventually had to wipe everything out anyways. I don't know how in depth your route plan is on you CCM (ours gets pretty extensive for a one-cluster setup), but you'll have to create a few new partitions. I wrote out some basic logic in layman's terms for how the phones now find the VM ports; if you want me to post it, I will. The integration guide can be found here:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/customer...prod_configuration_guide09186a00802933d0.html

And all guides for CCM 4.1.X are found here:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/customer/products/ps5820/index.html

As far as the 2 GB, I would say yes, most definitely. I don't know how many phones you've got running off the CCM's, but we've got about 1200, and the 1 GB we have on our 7835-1000's is barely covering all we need (and the 7835-1000's are an officially supported server model for 4.1.2). The publisher suffers most, and I have turned off every service we don't need; otherwise, I run out of memory very fast. Just running TFTP and doing the SQL writes, at certain points during the day we may have 5-8 MB of memory free. CPU is stable, though, and the impact of the high memory doesn't seem to be felt much, other than I can't run my publisher for more than anything except the database and TFTP. We ordered 3 extra GB of memory for our new servers, for a total of 4 GB in each server, which should eliminate that problem.

TMH

 

[snootalope]

Do you know if the version 4.1.2 has the updates for sql as well? I noticed we got sp2 installed for it on the ccm's, should i be looking at updating that as well? or will the install of 4.1.2 do that for me?

 

[jerake75]

Yep, 4.1.2 will install that for you (I saw it being installed during the upgrade).

TMH

 

[snootalope]

Dude, i gotta be honest, i'm scared as hell about this upgrade. I've done tons of migrations before, but this ones got me thinkin......arggg

damnnit to hell anyway huh?!? wish me luck Thanks a million for advice man, i really appreciate it!!

 

[jerake75]

No problem - I nearly had a heart attack before I did mine, I read every manual I could get my hands on...but the upgrade went off without incident, and knowing I could go back to the old software via the spare drive if anything went wrong was a good mental saftey net for me.

Any more questions you have, I'd be happy to answer them...

TMH

 

[snootalope]

well, i now know that whoever setup the raid on these servers, didn't do it correctly. i have no backup except that of a tape backup that runs every night.

So...once I start this, there's only one way it's going to end. whether it's with all my current data or without it.

I was just thinking about the unity server. It needs the Exchange 5.5 right. Well, I know I probably can't rely on that tape backup to resotore all my users on the new Unity server, so i was thinking this:

Install unity on the new server along with Exchange 5.5. Then, use MS tools copy over all my users, then proceed to demote the old unity server out of the picture.... I guess the only thing i'm worried about is how my CCM's see the current unity ports. Looks like they just register, so I wonder if I'd have problems at all doing this... just delete the old ports and register the new right?

How does Unity get those ports in the first place? Is that specified during the installation? Cruzing through Unity admin, I don't see where you can Add ports..only view them..

 

[snootalope]

maybe i should just upgrade to Unity 4.0(3) so i can use Exchange 2003. I'm licensed for it now, plus, i've been using it in-house now for about 6 months. it's really solid and much easier to manage than 5.5.. just a thought

 

[jerake75]

Unity can be a tricky (insert various swear word here) to redo...we wiped out our 3.1.5 box and did a clean install of 4.0.3 last March, and it was a two day affair with no problems. We have a unified messaging system currently running unity 4.0.4(SR1) with eight engineering specials installed, with Exchange 2000 running off-box. Do you have Unity running with Exchange 5.5 on the same box? If you have a unified messaging system, I'm not sure that Unity and Exchange on one box setup is supported anymore for 4.0.3, but I'd have to check on that.

Also, 4.0.3 is a great version, I had no issues with it at all, wish I was back on that version...4.0.4 is a bit different, a lot of small issues that can drive you mad.

I remember when Cisco first qualified Unity for use with Exchange 2003, and all of the horrid problems that ensued...the last I checked, Exchange 2003 is qualified for use with Unity, but I don't think it's recommended. That's the primary reason I stayed with E2K. But, then again, our Exchange box is just for voicemail, not for anything else.

As far as Unity ports, you create all your VM ports in CCM first. Then, after the initial install of the Unity software, you run the Unity Telephony Integration Monitor (UTIM), and create an integration with your CCM system. After that, the ports will show as registered to the IP address of your Unity server. The integration between CCM and Unity is really not that hard; the hardest thing is CCM 4.X, with the new VM port setup procedure.

I documented my Unity reinstallation procedure; I can send you that procedure if you'd like. I say send, because the procedure is three pages long (I'm not going to lie to you, the procedure is long and detailed). The key thing to remember during the Unity install is, if I remember correctly, user accounts and rights that are set up to run Unity - those have to be given the correct permissions, otherwise you'll have major issues with Unity functionality.

TMH

 

[snootalope]

Yeah, please send them over, can't hurt takin a look huh.. snootalope@yahoo.com - thanks

Yeah, we're running 5.5 on the same box as Unity. we're only using it for voice messages though, no unified messaging (we're not licenced for that).

I'll see what I can find about running Exchange 2k3, but you're right, it's not recommended. I don't have a copy of Exchange 2k nor the licenses, so there's another majot decision to make.. arrggg.. i might have to stick with 5.5, but it'd be nice to get that thing out of the 90's and into the new millenium ya know..

 

[jerake75]

Actually, if you order the Unity CD's via the Product Upgrade Tool, a copy of Exchange 2000 comes with Unity (the Message Store CD). It's only licensed to work with Unity, though...

When I get back to my office I will email you those procedures. At least, if they don't fit what you're looking to do, you can get a general idea of what's involved in an upgrade...

TMH

 

[snootalope]

ok, these are the options i got for upgrading..

CM4.0-K9-SUP=

SW CallMgr 4.0(2a) New Install And Upgrade, SMARTnet

CM4.1-K9-SUP=

SW CallMgr 3.3 To 4.1(2) Upgrade for SMARTnet

SW-CCM-3.3-SUP=

CallManager 3.3(4) upgd from CCM 3.1, 3.2, 3.3(2), 3.3(3), same svr

I wanna upgrade from 3.3(3) to 3.3(4) then to 4.1(2), so I'd need both CM4.1-K9-SUP & SW-CCM-3.3-SUP right? I've never used this tool before either.. are we entitled to that software or do we pay for the upgrades?? wow..that's a pretty noob question huh?!?

 

[snootalope]

ok, these are the options i got for upgrading..

CM4.0-K9-SUP=

SW CallMgr 4.0(2a) New Install And Upgrade, SMARTnet

CM4.1-K9-SUP=

SW CallMgr 3.3 To 4.1(2) Upgrade for SMARTnet

SW-CCM-3.3-SUP=

CallManager 3.3(4) upgd from CCM 3.1, 3.2, 3.3(2), 3.3(3), same svr

I wanna upgrade from 3.3(3) to 3.3(4) then to 4.1(2), so I'd need both CM4.1-K9-SUP & SW-CCM-3.3-SUP right? I've never used this tool before either.. are we entitled to that software or do we pay for the upgrades?? wow..that's a pretty noob question huh?!?

OH! here's another one I can get: (different contract)

CM4.1-K9-UPG=

SW CallMgr 3.3 To 4.1(2) Upgrade for SASU

Better yet huh?!? mabye that includes everything i need!

 

[jerake75]

I ran into this too - make SURE you get the CM4.1-K9-SUP - this should include the OS 2000.2.6 CD, which you will need for a new install. The one that ends in UPG will *not* provide you with the OS cd (I found this out the hard way). The software might also still be on new product hold; in that case, before you order, you will need to fill out an additional form at the web address they provide.

The only CD's you'll really need to order are the 4.1.2 CD's; you can download the 3.3.4 upgrade web file from CCO and throw it on a CD, if you want or if that's easier. Just remember, you'll have to go to 3.3.4 before you can go to 4.1.2. Upgrades from 3.3.(3) to 4.1.2 are not supported by Cisco...

If it's listed in the Product Upgrade Tool, and you have a valid SAU contract, then yes - it's all covered under your SAU, you don't have to drop a dime. Nice, huh? I caught a glimpse of that software's actual price once - it's a couple grand.

Looks like I won't be back at my office all day, so I'll send you the Unity upgrade procedures first thing in the morning. Trust me, anything helps when you're upgrading Unity (as I also found out the hard way)...

TMH

 

[snootalope]

thanks man....you're like 10x the help that TAC is. seriously.

Ok, i just filled out the form to get 4.1.2 in the full installation set. I've downloaded the rest of the upgrades but still ordered almost everything i could off the PUT just so i have it here...

I guess I just wait to hear back from TAC now. After I filled out that form, all it said was: "you'll be hearing from us soon" What's this?!? did you get that same thing or what?

 

[jerake75]

No problem for the help - I have been so pissed off at TAC lately for their lack of help, expertise, etc., so I know how you feel.

Ohhh it must still be on new product hold. If you go here:

https://www.cisco.com/cgi-bin/Software/FormManager/formgenerator.pl?pid=741&

fid=10520

Fill out the form for the 4.1 New Product Hold Release Process...make sure you have the order ID for your 4.1.2 CD's. Make sure you put in there that this will be a new install, and list your new server models, not your old ones (that way they won't randomly change the order to the UPG software set, screwing you out of an OS CD).

TMH

 

[snootalope]

Do i have to go through that order process on their web site in order to get an order ID? Cause I don't have one.. We work with CDW as one of our retailers so I shot my contact over there a message to see if they have it.

I tried using the order tools, but it keeps giving me "An internal server error occurred" so that's not working to well for me..

 

[jerake75]

Ah, the old internal server error. I've gotten that more than a few times trying to fill out that form. How frustrating is that?...

Yeah, you definitely need an order ID *or* a Sales Order # (SO#) which you can get from a retailer. The order ID is what you use for the Product Upgrade Tool to order the CD's...I tried ordering a set of CD's a few years back from one of our retailers, and they just ordered it from Cisco and shipped it to us, so I figured I'd cut out the middle man and order it myself. As long as your SAU contract is listed in the Upgrade Tool, you should be able to order the CD's from Cisco, then fill out the new product hold release form...I've ordered my last three sets of CD's that way...

TMH