Unless you are a migration specialist, you are unlikely to be managing data center migrations regularly. That means you may not be aware of the potential pitfalls and risks.

But, with careful planning and a check list of “do’s and don’ts,” you can look forward to a successful migration. The aim is to complete the migration quickly and efficiently so that you minimize disruption to normal operations and keep the project within budget.

 

No Infrastructure Assessment

Without a full infrastructure assessment, you won’t be able to create an accurate migration plan. You need a full inventory of the servers, hardware, software and network components that you will migrate or leave behind.  The assessment should also cover the number of physical and virtual workloads, the storage relationships and the dependencies. An accurate assessment will also ensure your budgets for any new equipment requirements or disposal costs are accurate.

 

Poor Environmental Planning

Poor planning of cooling and power requirements can lead to over-provisioning or inadequate resources. Both problems can impact performance and operating costs in the new data center.

 

Lack of Detailed Planning

A step-by-step plan ensures that the team completes each stage of the migration process successfully and does not overlook any essential actions. Without a detailed plan, there is a risk that teams may take shortcuts, particularly if they are under time pressure.

 

Unrealistic Timescales

The plan should also incorporate realistic timescales with an allowance for unexpected problems or delays. The timetable should include time for moving, deploying and testing each element. If the team is working overnight or at weekends, an allowance for fatigue is essential.

 

Poor Project Management

A successful migration project requires strong leadership and effective delegation. Each member of the team needs to know their role and responsibilities so that all migration tasks are completed in line with the project plan.

The project manager must have experience of migration and the skills to validate work and maintain progress at each stage. Poor leadership can lead to project delays and the risk of errors that create additional work.

 

Unrealistic Allowance for Data Migration

Data migration can take a significant proportion of project time. It can also create additional downtime for downloading copies of large databases ahead of migration. The process of data transfer and testing for integrity can be very time-consuming, so it’s essential to make a realistic allowance.

 

No Pre-Launch Testing

Although the migration may proceed smoothly and finish on schedule, a lack of rigorous testing could affect the success of the new deployment.

The plan should therefore include details of stage reviews and validation procedures to ensure that all aspects of the migration comply with quality standards and best practice. A final test before launch is essential so that users can work normally without problems or further disruption.

 

Work with Migration Specialists

A data center migration can be time-consuming, expensive and risky if it is not planned and managed carefully. If your team does not have the skills, experience or resources to handle a migration, you can use the services of migration specialists like VTG.

We have carried out many successful migrations using automated tools to improve the speed and quality of the project. Your team can then focus on maintaining “business as usual.”

More information

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