Migrating SQL Server FCI Storage from Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP Gen 1 to Gen 2

This article provides a detailed procedure for migrating SQL Server FCI storage from Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP Gen 1 to Gen 2 using SnapMirror replication with minimal downtime.

• SQL Server FCI requires careful orchestration due to iSCSI LUN constraints and exclusive database access requirements
• Use NetApp SnapMirror to replicate volumes from Gen 1 to Gen 2 before cutover, keeping destination nearly synchronized
• Cutover process involves quiescing SQL Server, breaking SnapMirror, reconfiguring iSCSI on all cluster nodes, and bringing disks online
• Temporary switch to Node Majority quorum required during cutover because disk witness blocks iSCSI disconnection
• Estimated maintenance window is 20-45 minutes with proper preparation and scripting of iSCSI disconnect/reconnect steps
• Complete rollback strategy available if issues arise, including reverse SnapMirror resync for data written to Gen 2
• Gen 2 delivers higher IOPS, increased throughput, and cost efficiency improvements over Gen 1

Proper rehearsal in test environments and collecting environment-specific metrics are essential for successful production migration with zero data loss.