Live migration of a virtual machine to a physical machine, also known as V2P migration, always comprises of several general steps such as preparation, conversion and restoration. OpenVZ uses OS-level virtualization technology which means the VM shares the same kernel with the host. Due to this fact, there might be differences compared to other technologies.
Here are the steps to migrate from OpenVZ virtual machine to a Physical machine:
1. Backup OpenVZ Container:
The first thing you need to do is to ensure that you have a full and up-to-date backup of your OpenVZ container. This can be done using the ‘vzdump’ command in OpenVZ or from the panel if you are using one. Make sure the backup is stored in a location that can be accessed from the new server.
1. Prepare the Physical Machine:
Make sure the physical machine is running on the same operating system as your OpenVZ container. Ensure the system is up-to-date and installed with all necessary software updates, libraries, and dependencies. If possible, try to keep the same network configuration to avoid post-migration issues.
1. Migrate Data:
Now, transfer your backup data from the OpenVZ container to the physical server. Depending on the size of your website, this could take a while. You can use tools like `scp`, `rsync` or FTP for this.
1. Restore Container on Physical Machine:
On the new physical server, restore the backup to the physical machine. You can do this manually by copying the data from the backup, or you can use a tool like `tar` to unpack the backup tarball directly onto the filesystem.
1. Reconfigure and Test:
After restoring, you might need to reconfigure some settings, especially for network interfaces and for any services that might be pointing to the old IP address(es). Boot the physical machine, reconfigure the system if needed, and ensure it works correctly.
1. Switch Over:
Finally, after you have tested and are sure that the new system is working as it should, switch your network to point to the new physical box. This could involve changing DNS entries, updating IP addresses, or other similar tasks.
It’s important to note, while the steps above are generally applicable, the specifics may vary due to differences in OS, the specific configuration of your OpenVZ container, and differences in hardware between your VM host and the new physical machine. Always refer to the documentation for your specific scenario or consult with a qualified technician.
Also, due to the differences between the virtual environment and physical hardware, some applications may not work properly after the live migration. Those include, but aren’t limited to, OS kernel-based and hardware interactive ones. Testing everything after migration is crucial in V2P migration scenarios.
