topic Re: Any hints on the 32-bit to 64-bit aggregate conversion process? in ONTAP Discussions

Any hints on the 32-bit to 64-bit aggregate conversion process?

duckwos — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 06:53:40 GMT

We recently upgraded a FAS2040 from 7.3.2 to 8.0.1P4, and at the same time added a DS4243 disk shelf. Because we are planning to switch to 64-bit aggregates and wanted to go ahead and get started with it, we created a new 64-bit aggregate on the DS4243. (We also need to rearrange the disk layout in our 32-bit aggregate, so we need to move all data off of it so we can recreate the aggregate). The root volume has already been moved to the 64-bit aggregate (using ndmpcopy).

So we need to transfer the volumes on the 32-bit aggregate to the 64-bit aggregate. ndmpcopy is not an option for some of our volumes due to the large size and therefore a long outage period during the copy. We need some sort of incremental copy method. Unfortunately, VSM can't transfer data between 32-bit and 64-bit aggregates. While QSM can do this, it requires that we move our data into qtrees, requiring that we change NFS export paths (and have one more layer of abstraction to manage). This is not desirable, but it is a workable solution.

What would be ideal is if ONTAP 8.0.2 is released soon and comes with the capability to convert a 32-bit aggregate to a 64-bit aggregate. If this happened, we could do the 32 to 64 conversion, then VSM the volumes off of the aggregate that needs to be rearranged. But if the 32 to 64 conversion has to be done while volumes are offline and/or requires an extended outage, this wouldn't work for us.

Does anybody have any reliable information that they can give about the anticipated 32 to 64-bit conversion process? Specifically, when will it be released, and what the process will entail? In other words, is it worth waiting for in order to make our conversion process cleaner?

Actually, what would really be ideal is if we could move the volumes on the 32-bit aggregate to the 64-bit aggregate while they are online, therefore not requiring any outage. But I realize that is a pipe dream...

Thanks for any suggestions!

Scott

Any hints on the 32-bit to 64-bit aggregate conversion process?

scottgelb — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 22:00:34 GMT

8.1 has the 32 to 64 bit aggregate conversion on the road map... that is estimated toward the end of the year as a release candidate and GA next year... but anything can change on the features and timing. But 8.0.2 will not have the conversion. Depending on the pain factor, it might be worth waiting or not for the conversion. You may also find that you have to add disks to convert from 32 to 64-bit but that won't be an issue for most cusotmres.

Re: Any hints on the 32-bit to 64-bit aggregate conversion process?

bhanojiisit — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 10:36:43 GMT

Dear Scott,

You can use the 3rd party data migration tools like "SecureCopy" which can do the incremental copy and with a short outage you can move the 32-bit volumes to the 64-bit ones.

I have used the same to migrate the 16TB*2 volumes for migration to 64bit aggr.

Hope this helps.

Bhanoji Rao

Re: Any hints on the 32-bit to 64-bit aggregate conversion process?

scottgelb — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:34:35 GMT

Secure copy works well. Now that 8.1 is out it is as mentioned above.

Re: Any hints on the 32-bit to 64-bit aggregate conversion process?

nwalker — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:22:17 GMT

As Scott mentioned, this can be done with 8.1. You can use volume SnapMirror to create a relationship between 32-bit and 64-bit aggregates. There are some special considerations that are discussed in TR-3446 which should contain the details you are looking for.

Thanks,

Nathan