6.17.1.1 Using OEDACLI to Perform Exadata VM Live Migration

You can perform an Exadata VM Live Migration operation using the Oracle Exadata Deployment Assistant (OEDA) Command Line Utility (OEDACLI).

In addition to the general requirements for Exadata VM Live Migration, the following requirements apply when using OEDACLI:

  • Download and use the latest OEDA software bundle.

  • OEDACLI must be able to perform actions as the root user on various servers in your Exadata system. To meet this requirement, your system must use the default password or you must specify the root password by using the genPasswordHash.sh command located in the OEDA software bundle.

    To specify the root password, run the genPasswordHash.sh command and supply the password when prompted. For example: 

    # /u01/onecommand/linux-x86/genPasswordHash.sh -root
Enter root password::******
Re-enter root password:*****

    Note:

    The same password must be used by all the servers in your Exadata system.

  • OEDACLI requires a current Exadata XML configuration file. If you cannot supply an up-to-date file, you can generate one using the OEDACLI DISCOVER ES command.

    To generate an up-to-date Exadata XML configuration file, run the DISCOVER ES command and specify:

    • The complete list of servers (KVM hosts and storage servers) in your Exadata system.

    • The directory location to store the Exadata XML configuration information.

    For example:

    oedacli> DISCOVER ES HOSTNAMES='exa01adm01,exa01adm02,exa01celadm01,exa01celadm02,exa01celadm03' LOCATION=/u01/log/exa01_discovered
Discovering nodes [exa01adm01, exa01adm02, exa01celadm01,exa01celadm02, exa01celadm03]... 
Getting Guest info on exa01adm02.example.com 
Getting Guest info on exa01adm01.example.com
...

You can use the OEDACLI MIGRATE GUEST command to:

  • Perform a precheck in preparation for a live migration operation.

  • Perform a live migration as a single integrated operation.

  • Perform a live migration using a series of predefined steps.

Performing a Migration Precheck

You can perform a precheck to ensure that a proposed migration meets the applicable prerequisites.

The command syntax is:

oedacli> MIGRATE GUEST HOSTNAME=guest_name MODE=live SRCHOST=source_host TGTHOST=target_host WHERE STEPNAME=PRECHECK_LIVEMIGRATION

In the command:

  • HOSTNAME: Specifies the hostname of the guest being migrated.

  • SRCHOST: Specifies the hostname or IP address of the source KVM host. This is where the guest resides before the migration operation.

  • TGTHOST: Specifies the hostname or IP address of the target KVM host. This is where you intent to move the guest to.

For example, the following command sequence shows how to perform a precheck before migrating a guest using Exadata VM Live Migration.

In this example, the MIGRATE GUEST command checks that the guest named exa01vm01 can be migrated from exa01adm04 (the source KVM host) to exa01adm06 (the target KVM host). 

oedacli> LOAD FILE NAME=exa01.xml
oedacli> MIGRATE GUEST HOSTNAME=exa01vm01 MODE=live SRCHOST=exa01adm04 TGTHOST=exa01adm06 WHERE STEPNAME=PRECHECK_LIVEMIGRATION
oedacli> SAVE ACTION
oedacli> MERGE ACTIONS
oedacli> DEPLOY ACTIONS

Performing a One-Step Live Migration

To migrate the guest, you can use a one-step migration. This approach offers the quickest and easiest migration path.

The command syntax is:

oedacli> MIGRATE GUEST HOSTNAME=guest_name MODE=live SRCHOST=source_host TGTHOST=target_host

In the command:

  • HOSTNAME: Specifies the hostname of the guest being migrated.

  • SRCHOST: Specifies the hostname or IP address of the source KVM host. This is where the guest resides before the migration operation.

  • TGTHOST: Specifies the hostname or IP address of the target KVM host. This is where you are moving the guest to.

For example, the following command sequence shows how to perform a one-step guest migration using Exadata VM Live Migration.

In this example, the MIGRATE GUEST command migrates the guest named exa01vm01 from exa01adm04 (the source KVM host) to exa01adm06 (the target KVM host). The example shows only a brief sample of the output from various migration steps. 

oedacli> LOAD FILE NAME=exa01.xml
oedacli> MIGRATE GUEST HOSTNAME=exa01vm01 MODE=live SRCHOST=exa01adm04 TGTHOST=exa01adm06
oedacli> SAVE ACTION
oedacli> MERGE ACTIONS
oedacli> SAVE FILE NAME=exa01.migration-merged.xml
oedacli> DEPLOY ACTIONS

...
Attaching EDV Volume exa01vm01_sys using device exa01vm01_sys_c7db815ef4cc457b86a3015d1c467ace to host exa01adm06
...
Mounting Guest Configuration Files volume /dev/exc/exa01vm01_cfg_1412f96d1bd742248723f203438c5fad for guest exa01vm01 on kvmhost exa01adm06
...
Migrate guest exa01vm01 from exa01adm04 to exa01adm06. Step MIGRATE_GUEST completed successfully...
...
Unmounting Guest Configuration Files volume /dev/exc/exa01vm01_cfg_1412f96d1bd742248723f203438c5fad for guest exa01vm01 on kvmhost
exa01adm04.
...
Detaching EDV volume device exa01vm01_sys_c7db815ef4cc457b86a3015d1c467ace from source KVM host exa01adm04
...
Done...
Done [Elapsed = 92755 mS [1.5 minutes] Wed Apr 29 15:27:06 PDT 2026]]
oedacli> SAVE FILE NAME=exa01.migration-deployed.xml
File : exa01.migration-deployed.xml saved OK

Performing a Live Migration Using Multiple Steps

As an alternative to the one-step approach, you can migrate a guest using a series of predefined steps. This approach offers greater control, which may be beneficial in various situations, such as testing or troubleshooting.

The command syntax is:

oedacli> MIGRATE GUEST HOSTNAME=guest_name MODE=live SRCHOST=source_host TGTHOST=target_host WHERE STEPNAME=stepname

In the command:

  • HOSTNAME: Specifies the hostname of the guest being migrated.

  • SRCHOST: Specifies the hostname or IP address of the source KVM host. This is where the guest resides before the migration operation.

  • TGTHOST: Specifies the hostname or IP address of the target KVM host. This is where you are moving the guest to.

  • STEPNAME: Specifies the migration step to perform.

    The following list shows the available migration steps (in order) for Exadata VM Live Migration.

    1. ATTACH_VOLUMES
    2. CREATE_BRIDGES
    3. MIGRATE_GUEST
    4. DETACH_VOLUMES

    For example, the following command sequence shows how to perform the first two steps in a multi-step guest migration using Exadata VM Live Migration. 

    oedacli> LOAD FILE NAME=exa01.xml
oedacli> MIGRATE GUEST HOSTNAME=exa01vm01 MODE=live SRCHOST=exa01adm04 TGTHOST=exa01adm06 WHERE STEPNAME=ATTACH_VOLUMES
oedacli> SAVE ACTION
oedacli> MERGE ACTIONS
oedacli> DEPLOY ACTIONS
...


oedacli> MIGRATE GUEST HOSTNAME=exa01vm01 MODE=live SRCHOST=exa01adm04 TGTHOST=exa01adm06 WHERE STEPNAME=CREATE_BRIDGES
oedacli> SAVE ACTION
oedacli> MERGE ACTIONS
oedacli> DEPLOY ACTIONS
...

Parent topic: Moving a Guest Using Exadata VM Live Migration