Preparing for the migration

To prepare to migrate your i5/OS^® data to a new target system, follow these procedures.

Before you begin this procedure, be sure you have completed these prerequisite tasks:

Parent topic:

Related tasks
Performing the migration Completing the migration

Preparing the target system

Ensure that your console is set up and ready.

If you are using a twinaxial console on the source system and using Operations Console on the target system, ensure that you have a twinaxial controller for any twinaxial devices you plan to run from the target system.
Verify that the target system is set up and is running with only the Licensed Internal Code and the i5/OS operating system installed (feature code 0205).
If you are configuring a system with logical partitions, create logical partitions on the target system and then install the Licensed Internal Code and i5/OS on each secondary partition. Allow at least two additional hours to do this for each partition.
Perform disk unit management (for example, manage disk protection and disk configuration). To do this, you can use the Work with Disk Units option from the Dedicated Service Tools display. For more information, see the chapter that contains Procedures for configuring disks and disk protection in the Backup and Recovery Guide.

Preparing the source system

Prepare to install the i5/OS release.
Ensure that you do the following:
- Use the Work with Line Descriptions command (WRKLIND) to view and delete unused lines and line descriptions.
- Use the Work with Device Descriptions command (WRKDEVD) to delete unused device descriptions.
  
  You can use the Work with Line Descriptions and Work with Device Descriptions commands to view and verify that all of the descriptions listed are in use. If you are sure one is not in use, delete it. If you are not sure, you should leave it.
- Save the entire system so you can restore it to its original state after performing the data migration.
  
  IBM recommends that you have two copies of the backup media.
  Feature code 0205 entitles you to run the new operating system on both the source and target systems for a maximum of 70 days so that you can complete the data migration. When the data migration is complete, reinstall the previous operating system on the source system to restore the system to its original state. To restore the system to its original state, follow the steps in Recovering your server in Appendix C of the Backup and Recovery manual. Use the Backup and Recovery manual for the release that you want to restore.
Complete the installation of the i5/OS release.
Print your system configuration information as follows:
1. On the i5/OS command line, enter PRTSYSINF and then print the resulting spooled file. This prints reports of the hardware resources, software resources, system values, installed fixes (program temporary fixes or PTFs), and other configuration information.
2. Print a new system configuration list and keep this list for future reference.
3. On the i5/OS command line, enter WRKDEVD. Use option 6 (Print) to print the device descriptions.
4. On the i5/OS command line, enter WRKCTLD. Use option 6 (Print) to print the controller descriptions.
5. If you have a partitioned system, print the system configuration for logical partitions.

Stabilizing the source system

Run the source system at the new release level for 2 weeks.
Save the entire system using option 21 of the GO SAVE command. Make sure that you specify the following options:
1. Vary off the network server...*ALL
2. Unmount file systems..........Y
IBM recommends that you have two copies of the backup media.

The next step is to complete the migration.