4.1 Converting NetWare Cluster Nodes to OES (Rolling Cluster Conversion)

Performing a rolling cluster conversion from NetWare to OES lets you keep your cluster up and running and lets your users continue to access cluster resources while the conversion is being performed.

During a rolling cluster conversion, one server is converted to Linux while the other servers in the cluster continue running NetWare. Then another server can be converted to OES, and then another, until all servers in the cluster have been converted to Linux.

IMPORTANT:Before you begin, ensure that you system meets the requirements and caveats in Planning for OES Cluster Services in the OES 2018 SP2: OES Cluster Services for Linux Administration Guide. Also verify that your system meets the requirements in Section 1.0, Planning the Cluster Conversion.

If you are converting from NetWare on physical servers to OES on virtual servers (guest operating systems running on virtual machines), you can use the same methods and processes as those used on a physical server. No additional changes or special configuration is required. See Mixed Physical and Virtual Node Clusters in the OES 2018 SP2: OES Cluster Services for Linux Administration Guide.

To perform a rolling cluster conversion from NetWare to OES:

Before you add the first Linux node to the NetWare cluster, if the NetWare cluster uses an SBD, ensure that the device (or devices) being used by the SBD are marked as Shareable for Clustering.

You can use NSSMU or iManager to mark the SBD devices as shareable. It is not necessary to bring the cluster down when changing the device attribute to Shareable for Clustering.

Using NSSMU:
1. Log in to the master node of the NetWare cluster as the administrator user.
2. Enter nssmu at the server console prompt.
3. In the NSSMU main menu, select Devices.
4. In the Devices list, highlight the device that contains the SBD partition, then press F5 to select it.
5. Press F6 to mark the device as Shareable for Clustering.
6. If the SBD partition is mirrored, repeat Step 1.d and Step 1.e to also mark the mirror device as Shareable for Clustering.
7. Press Esc to exit NSSMU.
Make a note of the services that are installed on the server you are converting.

You might want to install the same components on the Linux node if they are available.
On the NetWare server that you want to convert to Linux, remove eDirectory.

You can do this by running NWConfig, then selecting Directory Options <install NDS> > Remove Directory Services from this server.
Bring down the NetWare server you want to convert to Linux.

Any cluster resources that were running on the server should fail over to another server in the cluster.

You can also manually cluster migrate the resources to another server in the cluster prior to bringing down the server. This prevents the resources from failing back to the node after you have completed the upgrade.
Use eDirectory tools to remove (delete) the NetWare node’s Cluster Node object, the Server object, and all objects related to the downed NetWare server.

Depending on your configuration, there could be 10 or more objects that relate to the downed NetWare server.
Run DSRepair from another server in the eDirectory tree to fix any directory problems.

If DSRepair finds errors or problems, run it multiple times until no errors are returned.
Install OES on the server, but do not install the Novell Cluster Services option in OES Services at this time.

You can use the same server name and IP address that were used on the NetWare server. This is suggested, but not required.

See the OES 2018 SP2: Installation Guide for more information.
Set up and verify SAN connectivity for the Linux node.

Consult your SAN vendor documentation for SAN setup and connectivity instructions.
Install Novell Cluster Services and add the node to your existing NetWare 6.5 cluster.
1. Log in to the OES server as the root user.
2. In YaST, select Open Enterprise Server > OES Install and Configuration.
3. On the Software Selection page under OES Services, click Novell Cluster Services.
  
  Services that you have already installed are indicated by a blue check mark in the status check box next to the service.
  
  For information about other install options, see Installing OES Cluster Services during an OES Installation in the OES 2018 SP2: OES Cluster Services for Linux Administration Guide.
4. Click Accept to begin the install, then click Continue to accept changed packages.
5. Continue through the installation process until you reach the Open Enterprise Server Configuration page.
6. Reconfigure LDAP Configuration of Open Enterprise Services to specify the credentials for the container administrator user (or non-administrator user) who has the eDirectory rights needed to install Novell Cluster Services.
  
  For information about what rights are needed, see Assigning Install Rights for Container Administrators or Non-Administrator Users in the OES 2018 SP2: OES Cluster Services for Linux Administration Guide.
  1. On the Open Enterprise Server Configuration page under LDAP Configuration of Open Enterprise Services, click the disabled link to enable re-configuration.
    
    The sentence changes to Reconfiguration is enabled.
  2. Click the LDAP Configuration of Open Enterprise Services link to open the LDAP Configuration page.
  3. Specify the following values:
    
    Admin name and context: The user name and context (in LDAP form) of the container administrator user (or non-administrator user) who has the eDirectory rights needed to install Novell Cluster Services.
    
    Admin password: The password of the container administrator (or a non-administrator user).
  4. Click Next.
    
    The install returns to the Open Enterprise Server Configuration page.
7. On the Open Enterprise Server Configuration page under Novell Cluster Services, click the disabled link to enable configuration.
  
  The sentence changes to Configuration is enabled.
8. Click the Novell Cluster Services link to open the Novell Cluster Services Configuration page.
9. Click Existing Cluster, specify the fully distinguished name (FDN) of the cluster, then click Next.
  
  IMPORTANT:Use the comma format illustrated in the example. Do not use dots.
  
  This is the name and eDirectory context of the cluster that you are adding this server to.
10. Select the IP address that Novell Cluster Services will use for this node.
  
  Some servers have multiple IP addresses. This step lets you choose which IP address Novell Cluster Services uses.
11. Deselect Start Services Now.
12. Click Next, then continue through the rest of the OES installation.
13. After the install is complete, use the Software Updater (or other update methods) to install any patches from the OES patch channel and the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server patch channel for the installed versions of OES and SLES.
If you have a shared disk system on the cluster, enter sbdutil -f at the Linux terminal console to verify that the node can see the cluster (SBD) partition on the SAN.

sbdutil -f also tells you the device on the SAN where the SBD partition is located.
Reboot the server.
(Optional) Manually migrate the resources that were on the old server nodes to this Linux server.

Some cluster resources for services on NetWare cannot be used on Linux. See Section 1.0, Planning the Cluster Conversion.

The resources can automatically fail back if all of the following apply:
- The failback mode for the resources was set to Auto.
- You used the same node number for this Linux server that was used for the former NetWare server.
  
  This only applies if this Linux server is the next server added to the cluster.
- This Linux server is the preferred node for the resources.
Continue with Adding New OES Nodes to Your NetWare Cluster.