Switch from 32bit to 64bit in running environment

[jmo]

Hi
[...]I rebooted the slaveserver and put it into 64bit mode.
On the management web interface I got many errors.. "No system partition" etc. I was not able to control any storage stuff.. After a reboot and rollback to 32bit mode, everything was fine again..

My question:
Is it safe to put both DSS servers into 64Bit mode if they where configured to be 32bit before?
What is the procedure to do this?

Thanks in advance!
Regards, Laxity

Laxity,

during a phone call with an open-e engineer a few months ago, I asked similar questions.

Switching to 64bit kernel is insufficient, you need to convert the files systems to 64bit mode as well, which was said to be a matter of minutes and had to be done via options of the service console.

Our need to switch to 64 bit mode has not been driving enough to take those steps, so I can neither comment on the procedure nor the outcome, but would welcome myself a kb article on the required steps, including a description of the risks involved (were said to be close to none) and fall-back procedures.

Regards,
Jens

[Robotbeat]

I found a knowledge base article about switching from 32-bit and 64-bit: http://kb.open-e.com/entry/158/

It says that you basically have to recreate all the volumes. Perhaps, though, it is possible to convert them, but I've never done it.

[To-M]

Robotbeat is correct, we plan to have a conversion tool sometime after the next release.

[To-M]

I needed to expand on this more - sorry just busy....

We did have this conversion tool but we stoped it because we saw some issues - not in all casses.

Currently you will have to backup the data then recreate the Volume or wait until after the next release.

[Al-S]

The small update related to this issue named (0820-DSS_V6 - use 32bit volumes on 64bit kernel ), but we still recommend to go with the first way, to backup your data, then create new volume using 64bit, and restore your data to it.