Question regarding legacy version upgrade

[Chris_Lo]

We have a legacy SFHA cluster running
- Solaris 8
- VXVM 3.5MP2
- VCS 3.5

Previously we have obtained the notification id for software 4.0, 4.1 and 5.0. At this moment, I am download software of 5.0MP3

How do I upgrade to 5.0MP3?

License  question - I believe v3.5 is node locked, I think we have a license key obtained for 4.0, is this key going to be valid for 5.0MP3?
software upgrade question - Can I go straight to 5.0mp3 (RTFM?) If I can "re-install" the standby node to solaris 10 + 5.0mp3 (assuming the license key still valid), can I mount up the 3.5 vxvm filesystems and devices?

Millions of thanks.
Chris

[Gaurav_S · Accepted solution]

Hi Chris,

There is no direct upgrade of the product from 3.5MP2 to 5.0MP3..... you will need to uninstall the old product & install new one.... This would be the shortest method....

Uptill 3.x series the licenses were numeric, however post 4.x the licenses were alpha-numeric, so if you have a license for 4.0, I believe that should work with 5.0MP3 as well...

& Yes, you would be able to mount the old volumes from 3.5, 5.0MP3 has backword compatibility

Gaurav

[Chris_Lo]

Hi Gaurav,

Thanks for your replies. That's really help to clear up my questions.
Another quick thing to ask.

How do I test my 4.0 license key is valid (and contain features I previously owned at 3.5)? I went to https://licensing.symantec.com and it didn't produce any result.

Perhaps I really need to find customer care support now.

Thanks again.
Chris

[g_lee]

Chris,

To check what features/products are covered in a particular license key, use:
# vxlictest -k <key> -l

To check what features are licensed for each product once the key is installed, use:
# vxlictest -n <name-of-product> -l

To check if the key has particular features licensed:
# vxlictest -k <key> -f <name-of-feature>

Note: name-of-product and name-of-feature must be exact, are case-sensitive, and must be in quotes - the easiest way is use the name from the product listing (-k <key> -l)

Sample output (with actual license key obscured):
Check what products are licensed with <key>
eg: a 4.x storage foundation key (shows products)
# vxlictest -k XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XX -l
VxVM#VERITAS Volume Manager
VXFS#VERITAS File System
VERITAS Foundation Suite HA
Storage Expert#VERITAS Volume Manager
QLOG#VERITAS File System
PGR#VERITAS Volume Manager

eg: a 4.x vxvm key (shows features for the individual product, in this case vxvm)
# vxlictest -k XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XX -l
Storage Expert
VxVM
PGR
PGR_TRAINING
Dynamic Lun Expansion
Hardware assisted copy
Cross-platform Data Sharing

Check what features are licensed for "VERITAS Volume Manager" with currently installed keys (eg: on the 3.5 system)
# vxlictest -n "VERITAS Volume Manager" -l
Storage Expert
VxVM
PGR
PGR_TRAINING
Dynamic Lun Expansion
Hardware assisted copy
Cross-platform Data Sharing

Check if the feature is available with the given <key> (note: must be product key that lists features, not the suite key that lists the products)
# vxlictest -k XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XX -f "Dynamic Lun Expansion"
Dynamic Lun Expansion feature is licensed

see the vxlictest man page for further details:
http://sfdoccentral.symantec.com/sf/5.0MP3/solaris/manpages/vcs/man1/vxlictest.html

Also note that while the 4.0 license key can be used with 5.0MP3, it won't have access to newer features (ie: features that weren't available in 4.0), so if you want to use the newer features from 5.x, you will need to get a new license key.
(better explanation of why is here: https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/articles/faqs-and-myths-storage-foundation-keys under "Compatibility between Keys and Software (Binary) Versions")

hope that helps,
Grace

[Marianne]

Customer Care sounds like a great idea to confirm license requirements:
http://customercare.symantec.com/

I appreciate the fact that you do careful planning before the upgrade.

The VOS site is your friend when planning an upgrade:
https://vos.symantec.com/home

The second URL is the manuals/documentation site:
https://vos.symantec.com/documents

Start with Release Notes and the Installation and Upgrade Guide.